§ 15. Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Pensions what response has been made to the offer of the services of the General Council and Register of Osteopaths to his Department?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI have expressed my appreciation of the offer and have informed the committee that any osteopath who is a registered medical practitioner and who is allocated by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association for service in one of the Ministry's hospitals would be fully considered for any post, where opportunities existed for the exercise of his special experience.
§ Mr. HallWhy do the Department insist upon osteopaths being also medical practitioners, seeing that osteopaths are members of what is now a responsible profession and that thousands of people can give evidence that they are doing excellent work? Can the Minister not reconsider the matter?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThis has always been the custom, but I will certainly look into the matter again.
§ Miss WilkinsonAre we to suffer because the Ministry of Pensions cannot possibly alter a custom which dates back to a time when nobody had ever heard of osteopaths?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI can assure the hon. Lady that nobody suffers.
Mr. DavidsonIs it not a fact that the medical profession will not allow the Minister to change his mind?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI do not answer for the medical profession.
§ Mr. HallWill the Minister see to it that the medical profession do not call the tune in this matter and that he will rely on his own judgment?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I have an open mind in the matter.