§ 5. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether the inquiry into the administration of Bellahouston hospital is a private one; and whether, in view of the general interest in the matter, he will order the proceedings to be conducted in public?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman not reconsider this matter. In view of the fact that the interest taken in this question is considerable in Glasgow, it is felt that they would like to have published a record of the proceedings from day to day?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIn response to a request for an impartial inquiry, I appointed a Committee the names of the members of which commanded the respect of all people in Scotland. My hon. Friend knows that in this inquiry the medical sheets of the men may be asked for, and I cannot be a party to the public disclosure of such information.
§ 6. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether the regional director, when asking names from ex-service men's associations to form an advisory committee in Glasgow, invited names from the International Union of Ex-service Men; if so, what reply was made; whether he is aware that this organisation was principally concerned in pressing for an inquiry into the alleged maladministration of Bellahouston Hospital; and whether this action is responsible for their exclusion from the advisory committee?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have no information that the International Union of Ex-Service Men is representative of ex-service men in that city to any great extent. That body has been requested to furnish a complete list of its members in Glasgow, but that request has been refused. I am satisfied that the interests of ex-service men are fully looked after by the 26 representatives of the four ex-service associations who already serve on the Advisory 2028 Committee. If, however, the International Union will satisfy the Regional Director in Scotland as to the strength of their membership, I am prepared to consider their being invited to send a representative to serve upon the Glasgow Ex-Service Men's Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. MACLEANWas a request made to this International Union of Ex-Service Men to furnish a list of their members? Was it made by the Regional Director when that body intimated its intention of submitting evidence to the inquiry? Was consent for these men to be present made contingent on their supplying a list of their members and did not the Union consider that the demand was out of all proportion for the purposes of the inquiry and therefore decline to furnish the list.[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]
§ Viscount CURZONOn a point of Order—
§ Mr. MACLEANThe last part of the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ Mr. MACLEANOn the point of Order. The last part of the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman contained the statement that this Union had declined to give the list of members. This has only been asked for once, and that on a different occasion—
§ Mr. SPEAKERSupplementary questions should be brief and clear. I wanted to ascertain whether it was a right question to put, and that is why I interrupted the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt is perfectly true that the Union was asked to furnish a list of its members. I had already appointed representatives of four outstanding ex-service men's organisations and I thought I was entitled to ask the number of members of this body as it stands to reason that representation should be in proportion to membership. I think I have met my hon. Friend's point because during the whole of the proceedings of this impartial judicial tribunal three of its members have been present.
§ Mr. MACLEANDid the right hon. Gentleman call on the other organisations present at the inquiry and giving evidence there to produce similar information as to their membership?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, there was no necessity, as in their case the information was well-known to the Regional Director. It was only in regard to this International Union that we had not the information.
§ Viscount CURZONIs it not a fact that the International Union of Ex-Service Men only represents a very small and very extreme section? Is it not misrepresentative of the opinions of ex-service men as a whole?