§ 40. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Health whether the statement made by the Vice-Chairman of the Bradford Health Executive Council on 7th April, 1948, to the effect that 33 per cent. of the prescriptions of sight-testing opticians were wrong, was made with his approval; and whether he will stop his officers uttering derogatory remarks against opticians.
§ Mr. BevanNo, Sir. These must have been personal views. Nor is he one of my officers. He was appointed by the Executive Council themselves from among those of their members who were nominated by the local Medical Committee.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the officials working under the aegis of his Department have come to believe that abuse of the professional man is the privilege of the Ministry? Will he make it clear that the privilege is not extended to them?
§ Mr. BevanI do not follow the relevance of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary to his original Question. I have given an undertaking to the medical profession that both the administrative and professional aspects of the Act are free for criticism by anybody concerned, and I ought not to be asked whether I agree with what they say.
§ Mr. HouseIs the Minister aware that the estimate of 33⅓ per cent. error is far too modest in that there are thousands of young persons whose eyesight would be strengthened by exercises rather than by wholesale prescriptions by opticians for the use of glasses?