68. Major WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that at the recent annual meeting of the British Medical Association at Brighton a resolution was adopted, with one, dissentient, by the ophthalmological section, and recommended to the council of the British Medical Association, that the sight tests of the Board of Trade are not satisfactory and that an inquiry is urgently needed in the interests of the mercantile marine and of the nation; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in respect to this recommendation?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)I have seen a statement in the Press to the effect that such a resolution was carried. The Board of Trade have, however, received no communication from the association on the subject, and I am not aware of the grounds on which the resolution was based. As the hon. Member is probably aware, the sight tests now used were adopted on the recommendation of a strong Departmental Committee which recently investigated the whole question, and I see no necessity for any further Committee of Inquiry.