93

Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS,

Asylums Officers’ Superannuation Bill.Mr. BRACE, the Under Secretary to the Home Office, on

July 16th introduced a Bill to make further provision forthe application of the Asylums Officers’ SuperannuationAct, 1909, to officers in certified institutions for defectivesand to provide for the aggregation of service in asylums andin such institutions. It was read a first time.

illedical Treatment of School Children.After the Education Bill had passed its report stage in the

House of Commons on Tuesday, July 16th, it was formallyrecommitted in respect of Clause 2 (development of educationin public elementary schools). An amendment was agreed towhich provided that it should be the duty of a local educationauthority amongst other things " to make adequate and suit-able arrangements under the provisions of paragraph (b) ofsubsection (1) of Section 13 of the Education (Administra-tive Provisions) Act, 1907, for attending to the health andphysical condition of children educated in public elementaryschools." By the rules of the House it was found im-possible to make an alteration of this kind imposing apublic charge during the report stage of the Bill, and this isthe reason for the formal recommittal in order to carry outthe pledge regarding the medical treatment of schoolchildren.

Midwives Bill.The Midwives Bill has been read a third time in the House

of Lords. --

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH.A Ministry of Health.

Lord WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE called attention to thedesirability of establishing a Ministry of Health withoutundue delay; and moved "That this House urges HisMajesty’s Government to introduce at an early date a Bill toconstitute a Ministry of Health." He made a long speechurging the necessity of coordination of the health functionsof the various Government departments, and pressed theestablishment of a Ministry of Health as a matter of waremergency.Viscount HALDANE seconded the motion.Viscount PEEL, in his reply for the Government, pointed

out that the separation of the functions of local govern-ment from health questions would present many difficulties.The problem was extremely complex. He admitted thathe felt some difficulty in giving a precise reply upon themotion because the matters which it concerned were nowunder the very close consideration of a Government Com-mittee. That Committee was sitting again on the followingday (Thursday), and if it had come to a decision his taskwould have been very much easier. If he did not offerresistance to the motion it must be understood that thewords "at an early date " would be given a very large andliberal interpretation.The motion was agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESAY, JULY 10TH.Indian Medical Service.

Colonel YATE asked the Secretary for India whether hehad considered the representation submitted by officers ofthe Indian Medical Service, and whether he could makeany statement on the subject.-Mr. MONTAGU replied:Through the courtesy of my honourable and gallant friendI have seen the paper to which he refers, and I have alsoreceived numerous other representations regarding theposition of officers of the Indian Medical Service. Theother day I received a deputation from the British MedicalAssociation on the same subject. I recognise the import-ance to the Government and the people of India of anefficient and contented medical service, and I have under-taken to give the questions which have been raised in thisconnexion careful and prompt consideration. I am in com-munication with the Government of India on the subject.

Dledical Officers at Malta.Mr. R. McNEILL asked the Under Secretary for War

how many Army doctors were quartered at Malta ; what hadbeen the average number of patients in hospital there duringthe last 12 months ; whether any of the doctors in Malta hadbeen there for more than 18 months without coming homeon leave ; and, if so, whether he would arrange that doctorswho had been in Malta for such a period should now comehome on leave and be then employed on duty at home or

in France.-Mr. MACPHERSON answered : Medical officersstationed at Malta have the same privileges as regardsleave as other officers serving abroad. It is not proposed tobring home officers who have served for 18 months at Malta,but applications for transfer will receive consideration.

Treatment of Discharged Men in the West Riding.Colonel ASHLEY asked the Pensions Minister whether he

was aware of the lack of institutional accommodation fordischarged men needing treatment; that in the West Ridingalone there were some 792 men who were unable to obtaintreatment owing to lack of accommodation ; and what stepshe proposed to take to remedy this state of affairs.-Mr.HODGE answered : I am aware that there is still in someparts of the country a lack of accommodation for the treat-ment of discharged men, and various measures to meet theneed are being taken. The reports from the local WarPensions Committee show the need in the West Riding tobe particularly marked.

Treatment of Tuberculosis in London.Mr. BOOTH asked the President of the Local Government

Board whether he had received a copy of the resolutionpassed by the London Insurance Committee in June makingcertain stipulations as to the practicability of a com-

prehensive scheme for the treatment of tuberculosis in -

London; and whether he had summoned a conference ofrepresentatives of the committee to meet those of theCounty Council.-Mr. HAYES FISHER replied: The answerto both parts of the question is in the affirmative: The ’conference was held this morning.

THURSDAY, JULY 11TH.Panel Practitioners and illedical Certificates.

Mr. ALBION RICHARDSON asked the representative of theNational Insurance Commissioners whether he was preparedto make arrangements to enable a man summoned to appearbefore a medical board, who could not afford to pay a fee tohis panel doctor for a certificate stating his medical history,to obtain such a certificate free of charge.-Colonel GIBBS(on behalf of Sir E. CORNWALL) replied: The furnishing ofsuch a certificate as is referred to in the question would,of course, be entirely outside the scope of a medicalpractitioner’s agreement for services under the NationalInsurance Acts, and he would therefore be under no obliga-tion to furnish it. Moreover, it is a fundamental principlethat any information as to the state of health of an insuredperson which may come into the possession of a doctor bywhom he is attended under the provisions of the NationalInsurance Acts is strictly confidential, and is to be used fornational health purposes only. In these circumstances itdoes not appear possible that such arrangements as thehonourable Member suggests should be made under NationalHealth Insurance, nor be paid for from National HealthInsurance funds.Mr. ALBION RICHARDSON : Will the honourable and gallant

gentleman make representations to the Government as tothe great injustice which this causes to poor men whocannot afford to pay for a medical certificate in beingdeprived of their only opportunity of laying their medicalhistory before the medical board, and put in a much worseposition than those who can afford to pay for a certificate?-Colonel GIBBS: Perhaps my honourable friend will putdown a question to the Minister of National Service.Mr. ALBION RICHARDSON: I will put it to the Prime

Minister.Medical Students.

Mr. HoLT asked the Minister of National Service howmany male medical students under 28 years of age therewere in the United Kingdom ; and what steps were beingtaken to provide a supply of male doctors in the immediatefuture.-Sir AUCKLAND GEDDES said in reply : 1 regret that Icannot state how many male medical students under 28 yearsof age there are in the United Kingdom. There are, however,at present 5380 male medical students and 2250 femalemedical students at work in the schools and hospitals. Themale students freshly registered in 1917 numbered 1378, asagainst 1366 in 1914.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICE.To be temporary Surgeons : J. A. L. Cook, G. Blurton, G. B. Lowe.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.Lieut.-Colonel G. G. Delap relinquishes the temporary rank of

Colonel on re-posting.To be acting Lieut.-Colonels (while specially employed) : Major R. V.

Cowey, Temp. Major J. C. Davie3 (while in command of MedicalUnits), Capt. (acting Major) C. H. Denyer, Capt. J. Rowe, Temp. Capt.G. D. Hindley.Relinquishing the acting rank of Major on re-posting : Lieut. (temp.

Capt.) H. A. Rowell, Temp. Capts. T. Russell. H. F. Sheiden.To be acting Majors: Capts. F. S. Tamplin, C. McQueen. M. 0.

Wilson, W. Mathieson, H. W. Carson, M. White, F. G. A.. Smyth, W. L.