HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 c626
32. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Minister of Education if he will accept responsibility for the payment of the fees for medical examinations of applicants for superannuation allowances on the grounds of infirmity.

Sir D. Eccles

This request has been considered before and the decision, to which I adhere, is that it is not part of the Minister's duty to pay these fees.

Mr. Montgomery

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is not fair to the teachers concerned? The Ministry of Education gets the best of both worlds. It does not have to pay for the medical examination, but it keeps the medical report. Is he aware that the British Medical Association disagrees with him profoundly on this subject? Would not he agree that, if these teachers have to pay for the medical examination, they should at least have the medical report or it should be sent to their general practitioner?

Sir D. Eccles

I understand my hon. Friend's point, but it is quite customary in seeking an insurance policy or something of that nature that a medical report is obtained which is then confidential to the insurance company. I am really in that position.