§ Sir WILLIAM COLLINSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to carry out the suggestions of the Departmental Committee presided over by Sir Mackenzie Chalmers, which inquired into the question of deaths resulting from the administration of anæsthetics, and whether any communication has been made to or received from the General Medical Council with a view to requiring a knowledge of anæsthetics and of their administration as an essential part of the medical curriculum?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs stated in the answer given on the 12th instant to a question by the hon. and learned Member for the East Toxteth Division of Liverpool, the recommendations of the Coroners' Committee are now under consideration, and I hope, when time permits, to propose legislation with regard to them. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 15 of the Committee's Report on Deaths from Anæsthetics and to the evidence given before the Committee by Sir Donald MacAlister, President of the General Medical Council. Sir Donald Mac-Alister explained that the General Medical Council in 1906 issued a recommendation that instruction in anæsthetics should be a compulsory part of the medical curriculum, and all examining and licensing bodies with power to grant qualifications entitling the holders to be registered under the Medical Acts have followed this recommendation so far as their powers permitted, or are seeking powers to follow it. Correspondence took place with the General Medical Council on this subject in 1908, but neither this Office nor1404W the Privy Council Office has had any communication with the Council since Sir Donald MacAlister's evidence was given.