§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, since none of the 61 medical practitioners on pneumoconiosis panels possesses a higher qualification in radiology, he will take steps to ensure that a person holding a higher qualification in radiological diagnosis is available at each of the eight United Kingdom centres, in view of the dominant position that the interpretation of chest radiographs occupies in assessing degrees of respiratory disability.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo. I do not consider this to be necessary. The majority of doctors on the staff of the pneumoconiosis medical panels are highly experienced full-time medical officers who are skilled in interpreting chest radiographs.