HC Deb 02 December 1943 vol 395 cc554-5W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Home Secretary what period of treatment his medical advisers consider requisite for Sir Oswald Mosley before he is fit enough to return to prison?

Mr. H. Morrison

The medical reports which I have received do not include any estimate of the length of treatment which may be needed to guard against an extension or recurrence of the condition from which Sir Oswald Mosley is suffering, and I am advised that it would be premature to express any opinion on the point. As I have explained, I shall have no hesitation in ordering immediate detention, irrespective of any medical considerations, should I come to the conclusion that the interests of national security so require.

Dr. Haden Guest

asked the Home Secretary whether he will publish the medical opinions on which he acted in releasing Sir Oswald Mosley, that is, the opinions of the Medical Commissioner of Prisons, two prison doctors, Lord Dawson of Penn and Dr. Geoffrey Evans?

Mr. Morrison

The opinions of the medical practitioners referred to were unanimous and were included in the statement made by me in Parliament on 23rd November and in my speech in yesterday's Debate and have already been published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Frankel

asked the Home Secretary on whose representation Lord Dawson of Penn and Dr. Geoffrey Evans were brought into consultation to examine Sir Oswald Mosley; and whether he paid the fees for these consultants?

Commander Locker-Lampson

asked the Home Secretary whether the five medical men who attended Sir Oswald Mosley had their fees met by the State or were privately paid by Sir Oswald Mosley?

Mr. Morrison

Lord Dawson of Penn suggested that it would be helpful if the prison medical authorities would confer with himself and Dr. Geoffrey Evans, both of whom had attended Sir Oswald Mosley as their private patient, or, alternatively, with two other doctors of equal standing. As Lord Dawson and Dr. Geoffrey Evans had already examined Sir Oswald Mosley and were accordingly in a position to judge the progress of the disease, the prison medical authorities welcomed this suggestion and decided, with my approval, to take Lord Dawson and Dr. Geoffrey Evans into consultation. The question of fees for the two consultants out of public funds has not yet been raised, so far as I am aware. No question of fees arises in the case of the prison medical authorities.