§ 11. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has approved the Bill introduced into the Legislative Assembly for the establishment of a medical council in India, and for the maintenance of a British-Indian medical register; whether he is assured that a standard of qualification will be made and maintained which will enable such qualification to be recognised by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom; and whether medical practice both in India and in the United Kingdom and other parts of the British Empire will be freely open to medical practitioners registered by either medical council?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There is, I think, good reason to hope that the standard of the Indian medical qualifications recognised by the Indian Medical Council will be such as will enable them to be recognised also by the General Medical Council here. As regards the last part the present Bill does not deal directly with the right to practise in India.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEHas the right hon. Gentleman any assurance from the General Medical Council here that they will approve of the standard set up by this Bill, in which case that would settle the point in question?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have had no such assurance.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEIs it possible to get some such assurance before this Bill is passed; otherwise, Indian medical men qualifying in India will be debarred from practising in different parts of the Empire?
§ Sir S. HOAREI could not answer that question without further consideration.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEThe right hon. Gentleman says that he has approved the Bill. Had he considered that Measure before he gave it his approval, or is it only a temporary, provisional approval?