HC Deb 01 June 1921 vol 142 cc1053-4
61. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to publish the evidence given before the Departmental Committee appointed by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies to inquire into the Colonial medical services; and whether he will give a Return showing the number of medical appointments vacant in the various Colonies under the Crown, and stating the steps being taken to fill them?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. E. Wood)

It is not possible to publish the evidence in question, as some of the witnesses were assured that it would not be published, and without that assurance their evidence would not have been given as freely as was desirable. I will consider whether the Return suggested could usefully be given.

62. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he intends, as recommended by the Colonial Medical Services Committee, to appoint a Director-General of the Colonial Medical Service, who would, inter alia, advise the Secretary of State and the permanent staff of the Colonial Office as to all questions relating to the personnel of the Colonial Medical Service?

Mr. WOOD

The recommendations of the Colonial Medical Services Committee are at present being considered in connection with the observations of the Colonial Governments. I cannot yet make any statement as to the decision on the proposal to appoint a Director-General of the Colonial Medical Service.

63. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has sanctioned a minimum salary of £600 per annum, with pension, for Colonial medical officers, as recommended in the Report of the Colonial Medical Services Committee?

Mr. WOOD

No, Sir. The differences in the resources of the several Colonies are so great and the conditions under which their medical officers serve so diverse, that I see no prospect of it being possible to insist on Colonial Governments adopting the minimum in question as a hard-and-fast rule. In a number of the more prosperous Colonies the local governments have adopted, and in some cases exceeded, the minimum.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

Is it conceivable that any decent, respectable medical man can be obtained to go abroad for a less salary than that amount?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.