§ Order of the Day for receiving the Report of Amendments read.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received.
§ Moved, That the Report of Amendments be now received.—(Lord Snell.)
§ LORD KEYESMy Lords, as patron of the Central Council of the Royal Naval Staff Association, I have been much interested in this Bill, in so far as it concerns the very deserving body of naval pensioners who feel that they have never had sympathetic treatment from the National Council in their efforts to get employment in civil life. They had great hopes from this Bill. When I was in another place, I took the matter up with the Minister of Health, who promised that their case should be sympathetically considered. I understand, however, that under this Bill these men will be classified as "assistant nurses," which will prejudice their chances of employment in civil life. They feel very strongly that by their long service in the Navy, in naval hospitals and the sickbays of ships, and by the nature of their experience, the qualifications they possess and the examinations which they have passed, they are entitled to the designation of "State-registered nurses." I should be grateful if my noble friend would ask the Minister of Health to give this matter further consideration on their behalf.
§ LORD CHATFIELDMy Lords, I should like most strongly to support the request made by my noble and gallant friend Lord Keyes, on behalf of this most deserving branch of the Royal Navy.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I will see that the remarks of the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Keyes, and of the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Chatfield, are conveyed to the Minister of Health.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to: Amendments reported accordingly.
§ Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended, Bill read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.