HC Deb 06 March 1941 vol 369 cc1007-8
28. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Health the position with regard to the Committee, presided over by Sir Arthur Robinson, to consider the steps necessary to secure a proper allocation of the available medical man-power between civilian and medical services; how many meetings were held and witnesses heard, both medical and non-medical; and what opportunities, by publicity or private intimation, were given for evidence to be tendered?

Mr. E. Brown

In conjunction with the other Ministers concerned I am taking action on the recommendations of this Committee, which will shortly be published. The Committee sat for seven days and heard 17 witnesses of whom 12 were medical. As the inquiry was urgent and confidential, the Committee only called for such evidence from Government Departments and public bodies as it required to supplement the very considerable knowledge of the subject already possessed by its Members.

Mr. Mander

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are numbers of distinguished doctors, who are very dissatisfied with the present position, who would have been most glad to give evidence before the Committee if they had known it existed? Could not some steps be taken to enable them to express their views?

Mr. Brown

If the recommendations prove that to be necessary on any topic I shall be glad to seek further competent advice.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Will the report be available to Members?

Mr. Brown

I stated that the Committee's deliberations were confidential.