HC Deb 10 December 1973 vol 866 c55W
Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are now the special qualifications required by medical practitioners to be appointed to a pneumoconiosis medical panel.

Mr. Dean

Members of a pneumoconiosis medical panel must be fully registered as medical practitioners in the United Kingdom. Requirements for appointment include special experience or interest in occupational chest diseases, together with good general medical experience, including hospital experience.

Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there are any members of the North Staffordshire pneumoconiosis medical panel who on first appointment did not have experience in chest diseases.

Mr. Dean

No. All members of the pneumoconiosis medical panel at Stoke-on-Trent, which is responsible for the North Staffordshire area, had experience in chest diseases prior to appointment.