§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to say when the result of the consideration which has been in progress for some months as to the recognition of the services of medical referees appointed by him under the Workmen's Compensation Act will be made known, seeing that they have acted during and since the war at the small pre-War fees?
§ Mr. SHORTTThis question has not been under consideration recently. About 18 months ago I reviewed the position very carefully and came to the conclusion that there were not sufficient grounds for asking the Treasury to approve a revision of the fees. I appreciate the valuable and important services rendered by the medical referees, but after full consideration of all the circumstances—including the general financial situation—I am not satisfied that an increased scale of remuneration (with its consequent addition to public expenditure) could be justified.