§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether the last three lines of page 8 of the Board of Education Circular 576 are the only part of that Circular which it is not ultra vires for the Board to promulgate or to enforce; and whether, as stated on page 11, that Circular is of a preliminary nature only.
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Circular No. 576 was obviously of a preliminary character, as it was issued on the 22nd November, 1907. It was certainly the duty of the Board not to leave local education authorities without such advice and guidance in the initiation of the work of medical inspection as in the Board's opinion would conduce to efficiency and economy, and such advice and guidance have in fact been heartily welcomed by local education authorities and their officers (with very few exceptions) throughout the country. The question of enforcing the Circular has not arisen, and, indeed, cannot arise.
§ MR. ASHLEYAm I to understand that advice only in that direction is given by the Board of Education?
§ MR. TREVELYANI think that is so.
§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, as stated on page 4 of the Board of Education Circular 576, relating to medical inspection, it is the duty of the Board, under the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, to give directions to local education authorities regarding the method of inspection; and, if not, whether he will withdraw the Circular so giving directions.
§ MR. TREVELYANI do not think the Circular can be properly described as in fact giving directions on points outside the Board's competence. The whole Circular was, as was stated in paragraph 18, of a preliminary nature only; the matter is now dealt with definitely in the Code.