§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service whether steps are being taken to call up for military service Dr. Ross, of Chatburn, Clitheroe; whether he is aware that Dr. Ross is the only medical man in the village and that there is no other medical man nearer than two miles in one direction and nine miles in the other; whether he is aware that Dr. Ross holds five public appointments, that his practice is the largest country practice in the district, and that serious consequences will result if he is taken away from the district; and whether he can see his way to cancel the, calling-up notice?
§ Mr. BECKDr. W. H. Ross, of Chat-burn, Clitheroe, is aged thirty-seven, single, and Grade 2. All the facts in connection with Dr. Ross's practice are known to the Central Medical War Committee and the local medical war committee, and his ease has been fully considered. Both 2141W committees are satisfied that the arrangements proposed by the local medical war committee for carrying on Dr. Ross's practice in his absence are amply sufficient to meet the needs of the civil population of the district and to safeguard Dr. Ross's interests. The doctors in Clitheroe, rather less than two miles away, have arranged to combine in order to release one of their number to devote himself primarily to medical work at Chatburn. In view, therefore, of the urgent. need for medical men it has been decided that -Dr. Ross's services can be utilised to better advantage in the Royal Army Medical Corps.