HC Deb 12 March 1956 vol 550 cc4-5
6. Mr. Snow

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the method of selection of recipients of consultants' merit awards; and what Departmental scrutiny of the lists exists so as to ensure that regard is paid to merit alone.

Mr. Turton

Yes, Sir. Under its terms of reference the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards, which advises me in this matter, must have regard to professional distinction alone. Detailed departmental scrutiny of its recommendations would be inappropriate.

Mr. Snow

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to recent correspondence on the matter in the British Medical Journal? Also, are the lists of consultants in the three grades published for the benefit of other members of the profession; and if not, why not?

Mr. Turton

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that I always read the British Medical Journal with great interest. With regard to the second part, the awards have never been published, and the objection to publication is that patients would assume that they would get better treatment from award holders, which is wrong, because clinical ability is not the only factor taken into account.

Mr. Snow

Is the method not liable to a lot of misconstruction and nepotism? Is it not advisable that general practitioners should be able to scrutinise the lists in order to see exactly how the Minister is being advised?

Mr. Turton

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not really wish to accuse this very distinguished committee of nepotism. It is presided over by Lord Moran and consists of nominees of the Royal Colleges, the universities, the Medical Research Council and the Royal Scottish Corporations. I feel sure that the hon. Gentleman would not wish to accuse such a committee of nepotism.