§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the proposal by the British Medical Association that people should be allowed to sign their own sickness absence certificates, subject to the vetting of a panel of doctors.
§ Sir K. JosephI am convinced as was the Fisher Committee in its recent report, that there is no satisfactory alternative to the general lines of the present arrangements whereby medical advice is obtained from the general practitioner who is treating the claimant. The details of the present certification arrangements are however under discussion with the British Medical Association.