§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether consideration may be given to the institution of a medical board for senior naval officers to ensure some measure of physical fitness for those assuming appointments; and whether, having regard to the fact that in the last three years three admirals have died and six others have had to be invalided, he will institute such a reform without delay?
§ Mr. Shakespeare:I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, but medical records show that in few, if any, of the instances to which he refers would the eventual cause of death or invaliding have been detected by medical examination before the appointment was taken up.