72. Mr. ALFRED DAVIESasked the Minister of Health whether he appointed the present Chairman of the General Nursing Council set up under the Nurses Registration Act without consultation with the members of the Council; and, if so, will he state his authority for this action?
§ 73. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Chairman of the General Nursing Council has neither experience nor knowledge of medical or nursing matters sufficient to enable him to understand and to guide the General Nursing Council in its deliberations on professional subjects?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe General Nursing Council has to prepare statutory rules and to perform judicial functions in relation to the removal of unfit persons from the register, and, in view of the amount of quasi-legal work devolving on them, I thought it desirable to appoint a Chairman with legal experience, and I was fortunate in being able to persuade Mr. Priestley, K.C., to accept this post. I was not under any obligation to consult the members of the Council, and I accept full responsibility for the appointment. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the Council has been hampered in 1448 the way suggested; on the contrary, it continues to make rapid progress.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the discontent that exists?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am aware that there is a lot of foolish gossip, which has nothing to do with the matter.