§ 36. Mr. Croninasked the Minister of Health if he will consider releasing to the medical Press reports of the technical reasons for the conclusions of his medical advisers, when he makes major medical decisions which are likely to be of a controversial nature.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithTechnical information is already made available so far as practicable, both in reports of committees and in memoranda on special subjects.
§ Mr. CroninDoes the Minister realise that on frequent occasions he makes medical decisions on the advice of his medical advisers which are quite incomprehensible to the medical profession? Is it not the case that, under the present system, his medical advisers have the power to make up the Minister's mind but no responsibility to indicate the reasons?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have no evidence that these things are incomprehensible to the general body of medical opinion. If the hon. Gentleman is now saying that they are incomprehensible to him, I will, of course, take that into account as evidence, so far as it goes.