§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of 1195 parochial medical officers in each of the six crofting counties who do not possess the public health diploma required under the Public Health Act, 1897: and will he state why the Local Government Board for Scotland continues to confirm the appointment of medical officers in Highland crofting counties regardless of the conditions imposed by statute.
§ * The SOLIGITOR GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SCOTT DICKSON,) Glasgow, BridgetonThe Secretary for Scotland is informed by the Local Government Board that the figures are as follows:—Argyll County, twenty-three Local Medical Officers, of whom three possess statutory qualification; Inverness County, ten Local Medical Officers, of whom one possesses statutory qualification; Ross and Cromarty, eleven Local Medical Officers, of whom two possess statutory qualification; Sutherland County, no Local Medical Officers; Caithness County, no Local Medical Officers; Orkney and Shetland, three Local Medical Officers, none of whom possess statutory qualification. The Medical Officers who do not possess the public health diploma were appointed prior to the coming into operation of the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, and consequently do not require to possess the qualification. The Local Government Board do not recognise new appointments of Medical Officers who do not possess the statutory qualification.
§ DR. FARQUHARSONWill the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the propriety of forming these counties into a combined district, so that they may get the services of highly qualified medical men?
§ * Mr. SCOTT DICKSONI must ask for notice of that Question.