§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Minister of National Service whether he is continuing to work with local medical war committees in regard to the appointment of members of medical boards?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe answer is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Minister of National Service whether the members of the medical boards are appointed directly by him; and whether he will state the exact methods of composing these boards?
2027W
§ Sir A. GEDDESMembers of medical boards are appointed by the Chief Commissioner of Medical Services on the authority of the Minister. The boards are composed of civilian medical practitioners drawn from a panel set up in the area of each board. The chairman of each board, who is the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services of this Ministry for an area, arranges with the local medical war committee a roster of attendances of members at sessions of his board. The panels are formed from medical practitioners whose names have been suggested by the local medical war committee; a board of four requires a panel of eight to twelve members; the nominations reach the Ministry through the Central Medical War Committee, they are reviewed in the Medical Department of the Ministry and by the Chief Commissioner of Medical Services for the region to which the panel belongs and finally the appointments to the panels are made by the Minister and notified to the deputy-commissioner of the area.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Minister 'if National Service whether the Central Medical War Committee have any authority in the maintenance of or appointment to membership of national service medical boards; and, if so, whether he will state the exact terms of their authority?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe Central Medical War Committee have no authority in the maintenance of or appointment to membership of national service medical boards. The committee, through their local organisation have been asked by the Ministry, having in view the requirements of the civil population, to suggest the names of certain medical practitioners fitted to serve on the boards as stated in answer to the former question asked by the hon. Member. The Central Medical War Committee is the statutory appeal tribunal for the medical profession, and any member of a National Service medical board called upon to undertake military service may have his case reviewed by this appeal tribunal. For a full statement as to the authority of this committee I would refer the hon. Member to the Military Service (Professional Committees Regulations) Order 343 of 1916.