§ Mr. A. Robertsasked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the operation of the National Health Service Act disciplinary procedure in relation to the 181W services administered by the Medical Executive Council, with a view to amending the composition of the appeal panel, in view of the fact that this panel comprises persons appointed by the Minister and that the further appeal from the panel is to the Minister himself.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodUnder arrangements which go back in principle to 1913, and which appear to have worked satisfactorily in the interests of both patients and doctors, the responsibility for deciding appeals from the decisions of executive councils on complaints against practitioners taking part in the general medical services under the National Health Service, rests with me and not with a panel. The persons taking oral hearings do so on my behalf.