HC Deb 29 April 1941 vol 371 cc362-3W
Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health how many members of the staff of the Central Medical War Committee are whole-time employés of the committee?

Mr. E. Brown

Staff are provided for the work of the Committee by the British Medical Association and are not employés of the Committee.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health the largest and smallest sums, respectively, paid to members of the Central Medical War Committee for travelling expenses, or otherwise, and the names of the two members concerned?

Mr. Brown:

I could not supply the information desired by my hon. Friend without a special analysis of the accounts, which I do not consider justifiable in present circumstances.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health how the sum of £7,000, for the expenses of the Central Medical War Committee, was determined by an officer of his Department; who is the officer who determined the figure, and on what evidence; and is the amount and its distribution subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General?

Mr. Brown

The amount was determined by my right hon. Friend who was then Minister of Health after investigation by an officer of the Department of great financial experience. This officer investigated the statements and other relevant facts submitted in support of a claim for a payment towards- the expenditure incurred in connection with the Central Medical War Committee. As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd April, the payment is subject to examination by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, with whom it rests to decide what matters shall be included in his examination.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health (1) how much has been paid to the British Medical Association for the use of the office accommodation and office facilities given to the Central Medical War Committee;

(2) how much of the sum of £9,754 13s. 2d. paid to date in respect of the salaries and expenses of the Central Medical War Committee has been paid for salary, emoluments and expenses of the secretary and deputy secretary, respectively, or has been paid to the British Medical Association for the loan of these officers?

Mr. Brown:

No specific payments have been made for these items, but they were taken into account in determining the sum of £7,000 mentioned in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd April.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health why the sum of £2,112 7s. 9,d. for the maintenance and use of the emergency registrar up to the outbreak of war is included in the salaries and expenses of the Central Medical War Committee, having regard to the fact that such committee was not formed until after the outbreak of war?

Mr. Brown

The sum referred to was paid to the British Medical Association, which provided clerical staff and other services both for the Central Medical War Committee and for its predecessor the Central Emergency Committee. Although the cost of preparing the register was incurred before the present committee came into existence, it is used by this committee, and I included the amount for the sake of completeness in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd April.