§ 19. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a large proportion of the householders in a town of which he has been informed upon whom evacuated civil servants have been billeted have submitted medical certificates about themselves recommending that they be taken off the billeting list; and whether such certificates are being accepted?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware that a number of householders in this district have submitted medical certificates to support a claim to be relieved of the responsibility for accommodating billeted persons. In such cases the householder is informed that he has the right of appeal to the local Billeting Tribunal set up under the Defence (Billeting Tribunal) Rules, 1939; and it is for the Tribunal to decide in the light of the evidence placed before them whether exemption from the acceptance of billeted persons should be granted.
§ Mr. KeelingDoes that mean that medical certificates are not being accepted, and is my right hon. Friend aware that it is notorious that these certificates are being given on inadequate grounds?
§ Mr. BrownSince the first meeting of the Appeals Tribunal in October, 1940, out of 43 cases there have been only 20 appeals with a medical certificate. Out of the total of 20, 11 were upheld and nine disallowed. I would point out that in some cases the medical practitioner giving the certificate has appeared before the Tribunal.