§ 18. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in his discussions with the medical profession about the establishment of a National Health Service; and by what date he anticipates that he will be in a position to evolve definite legislative proposals for submission to Parliament.
§ Mr. WillinkI would first refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Howitt) on 13th July last. Since then, the representative meeting of the British Medical Association, to which I referred in that reply, has been arranged for early next month. Meanwhile, the Council of the Association have agreed to my suggestion that they should send representatives to elucidate points in their own draft statement of policy, and useful discussions for this purpose have taken, and are taking, place. I am not yet in a position to say when legislation will be introduced.
§ Sir L. LyleCan my right hon. and learned Friend give an assurance to the House and the country that the medical profession will not be cajoled or compelled to join the Civil Service?
§ Mr. WillinkI do not propose to cajole or compel the medical profession in that or in any other direction.