HC Deb 06 December 1966 vol 737 cc1147-8
Q3. Mr. Braine

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the recruitment and remuneration of university clinical teachers from the Department of Education and Science to the Ministry of Health.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Braine

In view of the conflict between the Minister of Health, who rightly wants to see medical schools expanded, and the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whose attitude over a pay anomaly has led half the clinical teachers to say that they may well leave the medical schools, may I ask whether the Prime Minister will intervene and use his good offices to resolve a ridiculous situation which is so highly damaging to medical education in this country?

The Prime Minister

Whether they should be the responsibility of one Department or another has always been a difficult problem under successive Governments. The view has been that they should be regarded as part of the universities rather than in the other direction. The whole issue is raised in the recent White Paper and my right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to announce a decision shortly.