MR. PIGOTTsaid, he begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to carry into effect the recommendations contained in the Report of the Select Committee on Medical Relief of Session 1854, or to make any change in the present system?
§ MR. BOUVERIEsaid, that the recommendations of the Committee on the subject were three in number; one was to the effect that the attention of the Poor Law Commissioners should be directed to the propriety of making a gradual diminution of the area of the districts of the medical officers. Another was, that the salaries of the medical officers should be increased; and the third, that after a certain date in last year the medical officers should have permanent appointments, and should not be removable from office except upon dismissal by the Poor Law Board. The last recommendation had already been carried into effect, an order of the Poor Law Board directing that after the 25th of March last all appointments of medical officers should be permanent. With regard to the medical districts and the salaries of the medical officers, those were matters not immediately under the control of the Poor Law Board, they being settled in the first instance by the Guardians; but the recommendations of the Committee had been attended to by the Poor Law Board, who had directed the Guardians to take into consideration the carrying out of those objects; and considerable increase was going on in the amount of the allowances to the medical officers.