§ 53. Sir F. Fremantleasked the Lord President of the Council whether steps are being taken to reconsider the courses and examination for the diploma in public health, in accordance with modern requirements, for which the present regulations are insufficient and out of date?
§ The Lord President of the Council (Sir John Anderson)The present resolutions and rules of the General Medical Council for diplomas in public health came into force in October, 1938. In 1938–9 a visitation of examinations for such diplomas was made by the Council. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the general report of the public health committee of the council on the visitation, which was published in May, 1940. While this criticises the examinations in detail, it does not appear to support the suggestion that the resolutions and rules are insufficient and out of date. In any event war conditions would make any general revision of the curriculum for such diplomas inopportune.
§ Sir F. FremantleDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that Assumption B in the Beveridge Report rests very largely , upon medical officers of health, who are 1764 one of the linch pins, and that the very large number of suggestions that are proposed for the realisation of Assumption B provide that in the future the qualification "D.P.H." will be considered essential?
§ Sir J. AndersonThat point will be kept in view.