Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Home Secretary what is the present policy of his Department with regard to the admission into this Country of Foreign doctors, dentists, research workers, and students, &c.; whether he can give the aggregate number permitted to settle here in the last two years; and what representations he had received from professional bodies in this country on the subject of this form of competition?
§ Mr. LloydThe policy is to restrict closely the admission of foreign doctors and dentists who wish to set up in practice in this country after being admitted to the British Medical and Dentists Registers. Since March, 1935, the rule has been not to permit foreigners to engage in medical practice in the United Kingdom save in the most exceptional circumstances; the same rule has been applied in the case of foreign dentists since February, 1936. No general figures of the numbers to whom permission to practice has been granted are available.
The question of the admission of refugee doctors and dentists from Germany has been the subject of representations from and discussion with the various professional bodies concerned and separate figures have been kept of the numbers of refugee doctors and dentists to whom permission to set up in practice has been granted. They are 183 doctors and 78 dentists, of whom the large majority, in the case of the doctors, had either been granted permission to practice or had commenced their studies for a British degree before March, 1935, and in the case of the dentists had been admitted to the Dentists Register before February, 1936.
As regards research workers and students whose work does not involve employment in the service of a person or firm in this country, no obstacles are placed in the way of their admission provided their maintenance here is assured, but 563W they are expected to leave on the completion of their research or study. If employment is involved they are not admitted unless in possession of a permit issued by the Minister of Labour to their respective employer in accordance with Article 1 (3) (b) of the Aliens Order, 1920.