§ DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he received communications pointing out that in the parish of Small Isles, Inverness-shire, with a population of 443, there is neither a resident doctor nor a midwife; that the nearest doctor lives eight miles from Eigg, across what is often a stormy sea; that lying-in women are exposed to great danger for want of proper attention; and that the infants are not infrequently born dead in the absence of timely aid; and what steps does he propose to take to remedy this' state of things?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANMy attention has been directed to the fact that there is no resident doctor or nurse in this parish, a state of matters which I regret to say is not exceptional in these outlying districts. With regard to the mortality in the parish, I am informed that last year six persons died in the Island of Canna, the youngest being 72 and the eldest 95 years of age; that there 1542 were no deaths in Rum or Muck, and eight in Eigg, including three infants, none of which wore born dead. There are no Government funds from which any special assistance can be given, as the grant for medical relief is for the benefit only of the pauper population, and the Board of Supervision would not be justified in treating one parish more favourably than another. I understand, however, that a meeting was held at Eigg on the 9th instant at which a committee was appointed, with a view to the levy of a voluntary tax to attract a resident doctor to the parish, and I trust that this scheme will be successfully realised.
§ DR. MACGREGORSeeing that the people have agreed to levy a tax upon themselves, and that the population is a very poor one, cannot the right hon. Gentleman give them assistance out of some fund?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI am sorry that no such fund exists either in England or in Scotland.
§ DR. MACGREGORThen is this state of things to be allowed to go on?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Parochial Board has power to deal with these matters.