HC Deb 09 May 1962 vol 659 cc430-1
23. Sir G. Nicholson

asked the Minister of Defence what conclusions have been reached from the study of the Canadian Forces Medical Service that was recommended in the Fourth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates of Session 1958–59.

Mr. Watkinson

I am having a further examination made of the desirability of some measure of integration of the medical branches and the information we have obtained about the Canadian Medical Service will be taken fully into account in this examination.

Sir G. Nicholson

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that statement. It takes a long time for the penny to drop. The Select Committee recommended this three or four years ago and we should be glad to know what is happening now. What will be the nature of this inquiry? Who will make the inquiry? How long does the right hon. Gentleman think that it will take, and how long will it be before attention is given to this issue?

Mr. Watkinson

In answer to my hon. Friend, I think that it might well be a little difficult to make the penny drop the whole way. I think that I had better undertake an investigation myself, with the help of my Ministry, so that I can form my own views as quickly as possible.

Sir G. Nicholson

When will that be?

Mr. Lipton

In ten years' time.