§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the evidence given before the Departmental Committee on the Medical Inspection of School Children, showing that the existing methods of 1102 inspection, as conducted by the local educational authorities in England, lack uniformity and co-ordination, and are, in many instances, of little value; and whether he proposes to issue, for the guidance of these authorities and their inspectors, a memorandum of suggestions and make a request for annual reports under certain specific headings to test the adequacy of the inspection.
§ MR. MCKENNAI think there can be no doubt that when the Administrative Provisions Bill becomes law, some guidance and advice from the Board of Education as to the methods of inspection and the classification of results will be necessary. How to secure the maximum of advantage from a general system of medical inspection consistently with securing the smooth working of the scheme and the cooperation of local authorities is a matter which requires and is receiving careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.