§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings of the medical officer of the Docking (Norfolk) Board of Guardians, who has declined to accept Year 1901 the decision of the board in favour of the withdrawal of beer from the inmates of the workhouse, and to the fact that the doctor has given a fresh order for three pints of beer a day to be given to sick inmates since the order was issued; and, if so, will he state under what authority the doctor has acted; and whether the Board propose to take any, and, if any, what steps in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.)My attention has been drawn to the case referred to. One of the regulations in force in the Docking Union requires that the medical officer shall prescribe proper dietaries for the sick inmates of the workhouse. It is, however, provided that no allowance of fermented or spirituous liquor given by his direction to a sick inmate shall be continued for more than eight days, unless before the expiration of that period it is renewed for a further period not exceeding eight days by his direction in writing. Subject to the regulations in force, it is for the medical officer to determine the dietary of the sick inmates, and I could not undertake to interfere with his discretion in the matter.