§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health the names of all members of the Central Medical War Committee appointed by him or his predecessor in addition to, and not included in the list of, the names submitted by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association; and, in order to make it fully representative, will he now appoint members of the Medical Practitioners' Union?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe names asked for in the first part of the Question are Dr. J. Alison Glover representing the Board of Education and Sir Hubert Bond representing the Board of Control. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many local medical war committees consider themselves as appointed by and responsible to the British Medical Association; and whether he will get the Central Medical War Committee to inform such local committees that they are independent committees and represent the local medical practitioners irrespective of the body to which they belong?
Mr. MacDonaldI am not aware of any general misapprehension such as is suggested in the first part of the Question, but if the hon. Member will supply me with the names of the Committees which he has in mind I will consider asking the Central Medical War Committee to take the necessary action.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health, when effect will he given to Regulation 58A of the Emergency Powers (Defence) General Regulations as regards medical practitioners; what are the precise duties of the assistant secretaries of his department and of the Department of Health for Scotland as regards the supply of medical personnel; what is the procedure adopted; and is he aware that there is disquiet amongst doctors in active civilian practice as to the attitude of the Central Medical War Committee?
Mr. MacDonaldWith regard to the first and third parts of the Question, the object of the Regulation has hitherto been1596W attained by the procedure under which the Central Medical War Committee advises a practitioner that it is proposed to recommend him for allocation to a particular post and gives him an opportunity of accepting it voluntarily, but a formal direction will be given under the Regulation in proper cases if and when the occasion arises. The assistant secretaries referred to in the second part of the Question are concerned with administrative questions as to the number of medical personnel required for the Emergency Medical Service, the method of obtaining them, their distribution and the terms on which they are engaged, as well as with the general co-ordination of demands for medical personnel in war time. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative, at least so far as the great majority of doctors are concerned.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he is aware that some local medical war committees in Scotland, although there is no such right in their constitution, are appointing subcommittees and purporting to delegate full powers to such sub-committees to act without reference to the full committee; and whether he will arrange for the Scottish Central Medical War Committee to inform local committees that such procedure is irregular?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware that some local medical war committees have appointed an executive committee with powers to deal with urgent matters arising between meetings of the full committee. Such an arrangement seems to be essential for the expeditious conduct of the business of the committee and I do not propose to interfere.