HC Deb 05 July 1923 vol 166 cc601-2
29. Mr. EDE

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will be prepared to recognise absences of children from elementary schools to receive sanatorium, hospital, or other medical treatment when such absences are ordered by the school medical officer or the medical officer of health as ranking with those specified in paragraph 23 (c) of Schedule 4 of the Code and will allow them to count as attendances under Article 44 (h) of the Code, thereby removing an anomaly that becomes increasingly apparent with the growing vigilance of the school medical service of the country?

Mr. WOOD

The suggestion made in the question raises points of financial and administrative importance, and I cannot commit myself to reconsider the existing arrangements at the present time.

Mr. EDE

Would the right hon. Gentleman undertake to consider this matter between now and the commencement of the next financial year, with a view to some alteration being made then?

Mr. WOOD

This is possibly one of the things I am considering; but I cannot give any undertaking as to my conclusions.