HL Deb 06 March 1979 vol 399 cc172-4WA
Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To list all the postgraduate studies in homoeopathy that they have financed, with the sums spent, in each of the last twenty-five years.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

I would refer the noble Lord to my reply on 22nd February. My Department does not directly finance studies in particular subjects. Our records show that in 1975 a symposium on homoeopathy in Birmingham was attended by 56 doctors at a cost of £256, plus travelling and subsistence allowances. In 1978 the travelling and subsistence expenses were met of seven NHS general practitioners who attended a similar event in Manchester.

Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they endorse the views of the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education about the desirability of financing homoeopathic postgraduate study; and whether they are aware that continued discrimination against homoeopathic postgraduate study amounts to a denial of the place of homoeopathy in British medicine without the authority of Parliament.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

Her Majesty's Government take the view that the scope and content of postgraduate medical education are matters for the educational bodies concerned and accept the views of the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education. However, as explained in my answer to the noble Lord on 21st February, my Department provides funds to support generally postgraduate medical education for general practitioners. Similarly, health authorities support the education and training of hospital doctors by granting study leave. The decision about the courses to provide or support rests with the Postgraduate Medical Deans of Universities who in making their decisions take account both of the Council's advice and of the wishes of the doctors in their regions. Doctors are free to practice homoeopathy, but few choose to do so. if more doctors want training in homoeopathy, it is open to them to make representations to the Deans and to the Council, either directly or through their regional advisers, or to their employing authorities.

House adjourned at thirteen minutes past ten o'clock.