§ 3. Mr. Hefferasked the Minister of Health if he will institute an inquiry into the way in which appointments were recently made with regard to the post of consultant dermatologist at the United Liverpool Hospitals; and whether he will empower the inquiry to take written evidence from the prominent doctors in Liverpool who have indicated their willingness to submit such evidence.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo, Sir. I am satisfied that a valid appointment was made and that my intervention would not be justifiable.
§ Mr. HefferWould not my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that in a letter to me he said that the regulations should be considered in itself indicates that this is a serious matter? Is he aware that there are many leading medical people in Liverpool who consider that there has been a conspiracy which has militated against Dr. Readett? Is he further aware that I have at least 12 names of eminent Liverpool medical people who are quite 1106 willing to give evidence to such an inquiry?
§ Mr. RobinsonAs my hon. Friend knows, I have gone very carefully into this case. It is a fact that in constituting the Advisory Appointments Committee two nominating bodies nominated the same person, which resulted in a committee of nine instead of ten, but this did not in any way invalidate the advice given to the board, and it is the board that makes the appointment. As to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I have had representations on behalf of Dr. Readett from one Liverpool doctor and if there are others who wish to write to me I shall take anything that they say into account.