HL Deb 16 December 1947 vol 153 cc292-3

[The references are to Bill No. 12.]

Clause 3, page 3 line 11 after ("who,") insert ("after the first day of September, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine")

Clause 3, page 3 line 12, after ("capacity") insert ("outside the United Kingdom")

Clause 3, page 3 line 14, leave out ("outside the United Kingdom")

Clause 3, page 1, line 14, at end, insert ("or in any voluntary organization operating in connexion with any such forces, or have served in a medical capacity outside the United Kingdom for the care of British subjects or British protected persons in a place in His Majesty's dominions, a British protectorate or a country or territory under His Majesty's protection or suzerainty or in which His Majesty had for the time being jurisdiction during the carrying on of wax operations in that place or its occupation by the enemy or the continuance of circumstances arising therefrom.")

LORD HENDERSON

My Lords, the Amendments on the Order Paper are very simple and straightforward and are agreed Amendments that come from another place. With your Lordships' permission I will deal with the first four Amendments together. They are a series of connected Amendments to Clause 3, and are designed to extend the provisions of Clause 1 to alien doctors who served with the Red Cross, Friends' Ambulance Unit, or other voluntary bodies associated with our Forces during the war; and also to doctors who served in a civilian medical capacity looking after prisoners of war, internees and the civilian population generally in British territories overseas which were the scene of war operations or were occupied by the enemy. Noble Lords will appreciate that such service may well be equally meritorious with that of doctors who actually served in the Forces and should be similarly recognized. The scope of the provision has been carefully limited and has brought forward no objections from the medical profession, who have been kept informed at all stages of what: is now proposed. I hope and believe therefore that your Lordships will be in agreement with these Amendments as making a provision which should be included in the Bill. I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Henderson).

On Question, Motion agreed to.