§ SIR JOHN BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is 388 aware that the Secretary for Scotland has publicly stated that some of the larger School Boards in Scotland are conducting a medical examination of the children on a scientific basis, and that it would be the desire of the Scottish Education Department to encourage other School Boards to follow the example; and whether he is prepared to give similar encouragement to English and Welsh local education authorities.
(Answered by Sir William Anson.) The question of the medical examination of the children of their area by a local authority is one which the Board consider must be left to that authority to decide; but the Board will, of course, gladly welcome any such step as this which is likely to contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of the children. I may remind the hon. Member that the Board issued in October, 1901, a circular to the managers and teachers of schools in large towns as to the great importance of proper attention being paid to the eyesight of the children.