§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health what communication the Central Medical War Committee has recently made to local medical war committees upon the subject of the Home Guard Medical Service; whether such communication was approved by the full committee; and whether it received his sanction before issue?
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§ Mr. E. BrownI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the communication to which I presume he refers; he will see that the relevant portion merely conveys to secretaries of local medical war committees certain decisions of the War Office affecting the medical organisation of the Home Guard. The answer to the second and third parts of the Question is No.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health when the Central Medical War Committee last held a meeting; what matters connected with the Home Guard Medical Service were then discussed; and whether he has received any report of such discussions?
§ Mr. BrownThe Central Medical War Committee last met on 14th February last. No matters connected with the Home Guard were then discussed, and the last part of the Question therefore does not arise.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether the Central Medical War Committee or local medical war committees, or both, have authority to decide upon the duties or rank of any medical officer in the Home Guard, or whether they are restricted to the duty of seeing that the civilian services are not prejudiced by the enrolment of particular officers in the Home Guard Medical Service?
§ Mr. BrownNo civilian body has authority to decide upon the duties or rank of any officer in the Home Guard, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the Central Medical War Committee has a general responsibility to advise the Government on matters involving the supply of medical men and women for war-time duties, and also to represent the medical profession in negotiations with Government Departments on these matters.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether medical officers of the Home Guard are to be called upon for whole-time service with their units in the event of invasion; and, if so, what steps have been taken to provide for the medical treatment of civilians, in view of the injunction to civilians to stay where they are?
§ Mr. BrownAs regards the first part of the Question, the position is set out in the communication, which as stated in my reply to a previous Question, I am sending to my hon. Friend. He will see1062W from this document that the second part of the Question does not arise.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the additional duties imposed upon medical officers of health by reason of the war, arrangements have been made or recommended for the services of available local general practioners to be utilised for the regular medical inspection and supervision of the children at war-time nurseries referred to in his Department's Circular No. 2388, dated 31st May, 1941, and Memorandum 247/111A; and, if so, what remuneration is proposed?
§ Mr. BrownThe detailed arrangements for the medical supervision of children in war-time nurseries are a matter for the Medical Officer of Health of the welfare authority establishing the nursery. Such arrangements will usually take the form of an extension of the authority's existing scheme for the medical supervision of young children, whether by whole or part-time medical officers.