HC Deb 07 November 1939 vol 353 cc45-7W
Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider dissolving the Central Medical War Committee, which does not enjoy the complete confidence of the medical profession, and appointing in its stead the smaller and efficient Joint Committee on Medical Questions of the Trades Union Congress, which includes amongst its members representatives of both the Medical Practitioners' Union and the British Medical Association?

Miss Horsbrugh

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not think that the change which the hon. Member proposes would be justifiable.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of and has authorised the circular letter of the Central Emergency Committee that medical practices, both as regards private and National Health Insurance practice, can be adequately protected under the British Medical Association scheme, and in no other way; and whether he has approved the scheme and disapproves of any other scheme whether instituted by an insurance committee or otherwise?

Mr. Elliot

Some of the documents issued by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association are sent to me for my information, but I do not know to what particular document the hon. Member is referring. I am, however, aware of the association's scheme for the protection of the practices of practitioners engaged on whole-time national service and have recommended insurance committees to assist in its operation so far as it relates to insurance practice. I have approved a number of substantially similar schemes submitted by insurance committees and panel committees jointly and am prepared to consider any other scheme submitted by such committees.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health the number of occasions that the Central Medical War Committee has met; and how many members were absent from each meeting?

Mr. Elliot

Since its constitution on the outbreak of war, the full committee has met twice, and I am informed that 14 members were absent on the first occasion and nine on the second. In addition there has been three meetings of the executive committee and one meeting of a special sub-committee.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is no representative on the Central Medical War Committee who is not either a member of, or directly or indirectly connected with, the British Medical Association, although there are other important medical organisations and, notably, the Medical Practitioners Union; and whether he will reconsider representations from this body on the matter?

Mr. Elliot

A number of members of the Central Medical War Committee have been appointed without reference to any connection they may have with the British Medical Association, and I am informed that some of them are, in fact, not members of the association. I will, of course, consider representations from any quarter on this matter.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health how many qualified medical practitioners are on the medical register; and precisely how many practitioners have permitted their names to be included in the Central Medical Register without any conditions and qualifications whatsoever?

Mr. Elliot

Of the 44,608 qualified medical practitioners on the medical register and resident in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, 43,650 are included in the register kept by the Central Medical War Committee. The offers of service recorded in the register are, in the case of a number of practitioners, subject to their commitments to His Majesty's Forcesorto local authorities or other bodies by which they are employed, and I am unable to give the figure asked for in the second part of the question.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether the 98 per cent. of the medical profession in the list of the Central Medical Register is limited to medical practitioners who have signed the British Medical Association scheme for the protection of the practices of doctors absent on war service; and, if so, how many practitioners have signed other schemes separately prepared by insurance committees?

Mr. Elliot

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.