§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he contemplates the creation of a special State medical staff to supervise the efforts of local educational authorities for attending to the health and physical condition of 1145 the children educated in the public elementary schools.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Board of Education are only responsible in respect of England and Wales. They already possess one medical inspector of schools, and I am contemplating the appointment of a second. I do not think it would be wise for the Board to embark upon the establishment of a large staff of such officials—at all events until there has been time to see to what extent the development of local authorities' activities under Clause 35 (b) of the Education Bill render such a course desirable.