9. Mr. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had any consultations with the appropriate medical authorities in Scotland as to whether there is a sufficiency of doctors to serve should pensions hardship tribunals be set up by the Government?
Mr. DavidsonOn a point of Order. May I draw attention to the wording of the Question? I specifically asked the Secretary of State for Scotland
whether he has had any consultations with the appropriate medical authorities in Scotlandon this question. I submit that when I put this Question to the Secretary of State for Scotland he can answer "Yes" or "No." The Question is not addressed to the Minister of Pensions at all.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Member must answer in his own way.
Mr. DavidsonI am asking for your protection, Sir, to prevent a Minister sending a Question to another Minister when he is asked, as Secretary of State for Scotland, for a definite reply.
§ Mr. Kirk woodAnd that Minister is paid for the job, too, although he may not be drawing his salary.
§ Mr. SpeakerWe must get on with Questions.
§ Sir W. WomersleyI have been asked to reply. This is a matter in which the position in Scotland cannot be considered in isolation. When pensions appeal tribunals are established they must cover the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the statements recently made in this House relate to the absence of the necessary personnel to staff an adequate number of such tribunals.
Mr. DavidsonHas the right hon. Gentleman, in any decisions he has reached on this question affecting Scotland, ever consulted the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Scottish Office?
§ Sir W. WomersleyYes, certainly. I might point out that the Medical Personnel Priority Committee, to which I have had to apply to see whether there was any medical personnel available, have two representatives for Scotland on that board.