§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to provide the hospital service with the additional doctors it would need in the event of a nuclear war.
§ Mr. BarberMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received advice from the National Medical Manpower Committee that the additional needs of the hospital and casualty service in war should be met mainly by transferring to the hospital service considerable numbers of doctors from general practice, that the selection of those for transfer should be undertaken in peace time through the existing machinery of the Central Medical Recruitment Committees and in consultation with the doctors concerned, and that those selected should be informed and given instructions on where they would be required to report if called upon.
My right hon. Friend and I have accepted this advice as being in accordance with the Government's policy of preparedness in home defence planning, and we now propose to consult the medical profession with a view to carrying it into effect.