HC Deb 28 November 1933 vol 283 cc681-2
37. Mr. McGOVERN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will inquire into the case of Mr. D. R. McClure, 12, Hawthorn Quadrant, Glasgow, who has been expelled, together with his brother, from the panel of his panel doctor, on the ground of certain actions and statements made by their father while acting as a political agent during the recent by-election at Kilmarnock?

Mr. SKELTON

An insurance practitioner is entitled, without stating reasons, to give notice at any time to the Insurance Committee for the area that he desires particular insured persons to be removed from his list, and the committee must take the necessary steps to enable such persons to choose another doctor. I am informed that this procedure was followed in the cases referred to by the hon. Member. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene and he therefore considers that there is no point on which Inquiry would serve a useful purpose.

Mr. McGOVERN

If I furnish the hon. Member with certain facts that after the recent Kilmarnock by-election Dr. Barr, the son of the Labour candidate, cut off the two sons of our Independent Labour Party political agent because of statements that were made against his father during the election, will he inquire into the matter; and does he not think that it is a dangerous precedent that political bias and persecution should operate by members of the Labour party against members of the Independent Labour party?

Mr. SKELTON

In giving the answer which I gave to the hon. Member I assumed that the facts were as stated, and I drew the necessary deduction therefrom.

Mr. McGOVERN

While agreeing that a doctor is entitled to exclude any paniel patient, does the hon. Member think that a doctor committing in writing political bias for the exclusion of patients from the panel is a desirable thing, and is it not the beginning of Fascism in this country?

Mr. LAWSON

Is not a doctor to be allowed to have some respect for his father?

Mr. McGOVERN

Yes, and the father should have some respect for the people.