§ 63. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the functions of British Medical Association liaison officers in relation to his Department; what payment is made by his Department in respect of those functions; and what is the estimated total cost to His Majesty's Treasury.
§ Mr. RobensThe liaison officers appointed by the British Medical Asociation are available for consultation by the regional petroleum officer on any matter affecting an application by a doctor for an allowance of petrol; doctors themselves may also ask the medical liaison officer to support their application. The appointments are unpaid and no cost falls on the Treasury.
§ Mr. MacphersonMight I ask again how the medical liaison officer can be expected to know better than the doctor himself what the doctor requires; secondly, is it not very wrong that the Ministry of Fuel and Power should shift its responsibility in this regard to some other organisation?
§ Mr. RobensIt seems to me that it is a good thing always to get the best advice one can. I should have thought that a medical liaison officer of the standing of those appointed by the B.M.A. should know something of doctors' requirements and, indeed, that he should be a very good adviser. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular cases in mind, I should be very glad to look at them and let him know the result of my inquiries.