§ 74. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that prison medical officers lacking a recognised psychiatric diploma are regularly submitting reports on the santity of accused persons to the courts; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of prison medical officers who hold a diploma in psychological medicine.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerYes. Few prison medical officers who submit reports to court on the mental condition of inmates possess a recognised psychiatric diploma, though all have experience in the diagnosis of mental disorder and the majority are approved by local health authorities for the purposes of Section 28 of the Mental Health Act, 1959. In recruiting prison medical officers, weight is given to the possession of a diploma in psychological medicine, and encouragement is given to medical officers in post to take the diploma wherever possible.