§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether it is the duty of the Board of Supervision, without waiting for complaints, to require Parochial Boards to provide medical assistance for the pauper class in remote townships in the Lewis and other parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and, if so, will the Scottish Office use its power to compel that Department to exercise proper vigilance in caring for the pauper class, and protecting the health of the population in country districts?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANIt is the duty of Parochial Boards to provide medical attendance for the pauper class. There is a Government grant of £20,000 in aid of this pauper medical attendance, and in order to participate in this grant the Board of Supervision require each parish to appoint a salaried medical officer, whose duties are clearly laid down. The parishes of the Lewis are thus supplied. No complaint has been received for some years from the Lewis of insufficient medical attendance. Of course if it is found necessary to increase the number of medical officers in the Lewis, the cost must fall on the parishes concerned, which are already, as the hon. Member must be aware, very heavily burdened.