§ 86. Mr. CASSELLSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 2052 whether he is prepared to recommend legislation permitting of an appeal by an aggrieved workman or employer from the decision of a single medical referee appointed under the Workmen's Compensation Regulation?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)The system of certification by Medical Referees is now being inquired into by a Departmental Committee, and pending receipt of their report, I am not prepared to consider the question of legislation on the lines suggested.
§ Mr. CASSELLSCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the House will have information with regard to the result of this inquiry?
§ Sir J. SIMONI do not know that I can say exactly when the information will be available, but I understand that the committee have practically completed the taking of evidence.
§ 87. Mr. CASSELLSasked the Home Secretary the number of cases examined by Dr. A. E. Hunter, Falkirk, medical referee under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, in his capacity as medical referee during the years 1933, 1934, and 1935; and in how many of such cases the workmen were certified, respectively, as totally recovered from the effects of accident and as partially recovered and fit for light work?
§ Sir J. SIMONIn these three years Dr. Hunter decided respectively 18, 19 and 13 references under Sections 19 and 43 of the Act of 1925. I have no information as to the terms of his decisions on the question of recovery.
§ Mr. CASSELLSIs it not a fact that that information can easily be obtained by the Department? Surely that is so.
§ Sir J. SIMONI have not quite followed the purpose to be served by such an inquiry.
§ Mr. CASSELLSA previous question was asked by me with regard to this same medical referee. I am only making an effort to ascertain his bona fides, and I think this House should be advised of the results of the inquiry.
§ Sir J. SIMONIf the hon. Member has any grounds at all for suggesting want of impartiality or bias I am sure he will call my attention to them, and I will gladly have the matter looked into.
§ Mr. BUCHANANOn a point of Order. Has a Cabinet Minister, in the exercise of his functions in answering questions in this House, any right before he will answer a question to demand from the Member who has put the question the purpose there is behind it? If questions are only to be answered when we have given the Minister the purpose behind them, it seems to me it will be the end of questions in this House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not an answer I often hear, but it is sometimes very useful to know what the hon. Member is driving at.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIt may be useful, but that is not the point. I want to press this point. Once a question has been allowed, is the Minister entitled to ask, before he will give an answer, the purpose which is in the hon. Member's mind? Is it not for you, Mr. Speaker, if the question is not correct, to rule it out?
§ Sir J. SIMONMay I respectfully say that I should be very sorry not to deal with the hon. Member fairly, but the question was a supplementary question, and if he wants further information it is extremely difficult to direct inquiries intelligently unless I get some idea of the purpose.
§ Mr. MAXTONMay I put it to you, Sir, that the question on the Paper—not the supplementary question—was perfectly specific, and the Minister stated that he would not reply until he knew what the hon. Member's motives were? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] What was his answer to the specific question on the Paper, not the supplementary question?
§ Mr. CASSELLSIn view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first available opportunity.