Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any departure from the proposals of the Jamaica Constitution announced by him last year in the Draft Order in Council which has recently received the consideration of the Legislative Council; whether any alteration is contemplated in the relative position of the Executive Council and the Privy Council; and whether it is still intended that the working of the Constitution be reviewed after five years.
§ Colonel StanleyThere are two points of some importance on which, after consideration, I have proposed departures 1395W from the White Paper (Cmd. 6427). My first proposal is that there should be no property qualification for membership of the House of Representatives. The second is that eligibility for election as President of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the House of Representatives should in each case be limited to members. There is no foundation for the suggestion that a very important departure has been made and that the Executive Council is not to be the principal instrument of policy in Jamaica. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.
Mr. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received a Report from the Governor of Jamaica about the number of doctors who have resigned from the Jamaican medical service during the last three years, together with the reasons for their resignations.
§ Colonel StanleyTen doctors have resigned during the last three years. One of these doctors resigned when on leave in the United Kingdom, where her husband was posted on military duty; one returned to the United States, of which he was a citizen; one, a Dutch refugee, proceeded to Curacao at the request of the Netherlands Government; one resigned without giving any reason and one has since rejoined the Medical Service. In general, the reasons put forward for resignation were inadequate travelling and subsistence allowances; trivial differences with the Senior Medical Officer; protests against transfers and lack of time for private practice. The salaries of Medical Officers were substantially increased as from 1st April, 1943. Newly appointed officers who previously received a fixed salary of £400 per annum now get £500 per annum, rising to £600 per annum plus a sum of £300 per annum in lieu of private practice, where that is not available or permitted.