§ 36. Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Pensions the number of doctors engaged on the various medical boards in the West of Scotland; whether they are permanently employed; what are the salaries paid to them; what are their duties; and whether they have received any instructions recently from his Department with respect to the need for economy in the assessment of disability allowances?
§ Major TRYONThe personnel of these medical boards is drawn from a panel of some 200 local practitioners, who are employed on a sessional basis, and are paid at, the rate of 11s. 6d. for chairman, and £1 6s. 3d. for other members for each session of two hours. The boards are responsible to a small whole-time medical staff in charge of the arrangements for boarding and the provision of treatment in this area, and their duties are to assess the degree of disablement and to report generally on the medical aspect of the case. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend has stated repeatedly that no instruction of the nature suggested has been, or will be, issued by his Department.