§ 29. Mr. Marloweasked the Minister of Health upon what considerations the medical committee of a hospital is expected to make recommendations to the Distinction Awards Committee; what qualities in a doctor are to be regarded as justifying a recommendation for merit money; upon what grounds the medical committee is to grade those recommended for the highest, the second and the lowest rate of merit money; and whether the decisions of the Awards Committee will be published.
§ Mr. BevanA medical committee, like any other body wishing to make a recommendation, will, no doubt, form its own judgment on these matters, and I do not intervene. I have not yet received any recommendations of the Awards Committee, and it is too early to decide about the desirability of publication.
§ Mr. MarloweDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that he is asking medical committees to express an opinion upon matters about which they know practically nothing, a course which they will find very difficult, although I realise it is a thing which never presents any difficulties to the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. BevanThere is no need for that supplementary, not the slightest. This is a very competent medical body, which is deciding upon the merits of members of its own profession, and I do not propose to intervene. I will pronounce no judgment whatsoever upon the awards that it makes.