MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware of the dismissal from office of Dr. George Duncan, the Poor Law medical officer of the parishes of Kintail, Glenshiel, and Lochalsh, after fifty years of public service; will he say if he failed or neglected or refused to perform the duties of his office, or if he was found unfit or incompetent to discharge them; have the Local Government Board made any inquiry into the case; and, if so, what reasons have been alleged by the parish councils for his dismissal.
§ MR. SINCLAIRI have to reply to the first part of the Question in the affirmative, but, as the hon. Member is aware, the Board have no power to interfere in the matter of dismissal of a parochial medical officer. Dr. Duncan, who is medical officer of the three very large parishes named, is of advanced years, and I understand that, as he has failed to implement an agreement made with him three years ago to appoint an assistant, he has been asked to resign as from 1st July next. I am not aware that unfitness or in competency of any kind has been alleged.