§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Labour if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a woman medical student, now aged 26, who was compelled by family circumstances to delay entering upon her 215W medical studies, but who has been accepted for completion of her medical training by a British school of medicine, the term to commence this month, but has been informed by a local employment exchange that she will not be allowed to continue her medical studies because she is over 19 years of age.
§ Mr. E. BevinThe woman medical student to whom my hon. Friend refers entered upon her medical studies in 1942 and was in consequence reserved. In August, 1943, the university authorities reported that she had failed to make satisfactory progress and in consequence her reservation was withdrawn. In view of the fact that she does not satisfy the condition as to age, which is now in operation, and of her previous failure to make satisfactory progress in her medical studies, I regret that I am unable to allow her to be reserved for the purpose of entering another medical school, and if, as a result of an independent medical examination, she is found fit to undertake work of national importance I must require her to do so.