33. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Education Department are now insisting that physical instruction shall hence-forth be given by those who hold a diploma from one of the gymnasia recognised by the Department; whether a Dane has been appointed an instructor in physical drill; and whether, as a result, the appointment of ex Army men as attendance officers is being hereby prejudiced?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative as regards primary schools, and in the affirmative, as a rule, in the case of higher-grade and secondary schools. With regard to the second part of the question, the governors of Dunfermline College of Hygiene and Physical Training have appointed a Dane to be one of their instructors of physical exercises, and this gentleman has been employed temporarily by the Scotch Education Department for the inspection of physical exercises under the supervision of the chief inspector of that subject. This appointment does not seem to have any possible bearing on the question of the employment by school boards of ex-Army men as attendance officers.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill not the right hon. Gentleman do something to obtain the employment of soldiers on what is really the special work of the Army; and will he not communicate with the officer in charge of the gymnasia in the Army and try to get soldiers trained for this special purpose?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThat is a question of which the Noble Lord should give me special notice. The training of soldiers is rather outside of my Department.