asked the Minister of Health if he will recast the National Health Service Executive Council for Dorset, by including at least one member of the insurance committee who represents insured persons.

No, Sir. This Executive Council, the Chairman of which is also Chairman of the Insurance Committee, has already been set up. There is no power to vary the membership, even it I wished to do so, until the members' term of office expires or a vacancy occurs.

In those circumstances, will the Minister bear this question in mind? These committee men, who have done such good work, feel that they have had an undeserved slight and that the interests of the insured persons will suffer.

There is always very great difficulty about these things. In making these appointments I have tried to ignore all political considerations. I have been attacked from all parts of the House for not putting the right people in, and in these circumstances that seems an admirable situation for the Minister to be in.

Does the Minister realise that I am not asking for any political men to be brought in but that the interests of the insured persons should be safeguarded?

Yes, Sir, but the interests of the insured persons have been taken into account in the appointment of these councils. Once they have been appointed and have been running for a few years, I hope to receive from them advice as to new appointments which will very much relieve the responsibility of the Minister of Health, whoever he may be at that time.