§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Minister of Labour whether every medical board concerned with examining recruits includes a doctor with special experience of psychological medicine?
§ Mr. E. BrownNo, Sir. I am advised that it would be impracticable to include a doctor with such experience on every medical board. The instructions issued to medical boards with regard to the estimation of a man's nervous stability provide that in cases of doubt a specialist's opinion should be obtained.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Labour whether he will review the whole question of appointments of medical men to recruiting medical boards made by his Department, which now are not made effective owing to the chairmen of some boards alleging that the lists of appointees are too large, who, at the same time, allow a few of their professional friends to undertake all the work which should properly be distributed impartially amongst the Department's appointees?
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Labour the number of recruiting medical boards set up under the Military Training Act, 1939, and later under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939; the total number of medical men employed thereon; the total amount paid to such medical men; the maximum sum received in totality by any medical examiner to date; and the minimum sum received in totality of any medical examiner?
§ Mr. BrownThe number of medical boards set up under the Military Training Act and the National Service (Armed Forces) Act is 163. The total number of medical practitioners at present serving, either as chairmen or as members of the panels of medical boards is 2,790. The total amount of fees paid to such medical practitioners up to 31st January, 1940, is about £260,600. Voluntary recruits are also examined by these boards, and the fees paid in respect of such recruits are included in this total. I cannot state, without making a detailed inquiry, the maximum and minimum total sums respectively paid to individual medical practitioners.