§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the case, details of which have been sent to him, of a medical student, the son of a. consulting surgeon, who has passed the second examination of the English Conjoint Board and, on that achievement, was accepted as a clinical student at the Middlesex Hospital, but, because he failed to pass the corresponding examination of Oxford University (1st B.M.), has now been de-reserved and is thus prevented from continuing his clinical studies at the hospital, the authorities of which have expressed their strong desire that he should do so?
§ Mr. BevinOne of the conditions for the continued reservation of a medical student is that he shall be periodically certified by the responsible authority of his University or other training establishment, as making satisfactory progress in his studies. This restriction is necessary, not only for more general reasons, but because the number of places for medical students is limited and an unsatisfactory student is not only failing to qualify himself but is preventing some one else from doing so. The reservation of the student to whom my hon. Friend refers was withdrawn in January last following the receipt of a report from his University that he had failed to make satisfactory progress in his studies. Previous representations in this case have been very carefully and sympathetically considered, but no special circumstances have been advanced which would justify the exceptional course of restoring reservation to this student. The fact that, in the time which must inevitably elapse between de-reservation and calling up, a student is able to pass an examination, whether in connection with his original course of study or for a different qualification, does not in any way invalidate the adverse report upon 1809W which it has been decided to withdraw his reservation. I am, therefore, unable to reconsider the decision in this case.