§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions if he will arrange that all doctors on tribunals shall be independent and not doctors transferred from the Ministry of Pensions?
§ Sir D. HOGGI have been asked to answer this question. All members of Pensions Appeal Tribunals, including medical members, are appointed by the Lord Chancellor and are quite independent of the Ministry of Pensions. To make service in the past under the Ministry of Pensions a disqualification for appointment would be to deprive the tribunals of some of the best available medical talent.
§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions the number of men acting as secretaries on Appeals Tribunal who are not ex-service men; and whether he will take steps to see that these positions are all filled by ex-service men as early as possible?
§ Sir D. HOGGI have been asked to answer this question. Of the 30 secre-1236W taries of Pensions Appeal Tribunals two only are not ex-service men. One of the two was rejected for service on medical grounds and the other, a gentleman of 52 years of age, is retained on the ground of efficiency.