§ 33. Mr. GARDNERasked the Minister of Health the general nature of the regulations issued on orthopædic treatment for children up to School-leaving age; and what proportion of the expenditure of local authorities is defrayed by the Ministry?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOrthopædic treatment is provided for children of all 1365 ages who are suffering from surgical tuberculosis, by the county and county borough councils under their schemes for the institutional treatment of tuberculosis, and for non-tuberculous cripple children under School age by the local authorities which are responsible for the maternity and child welfare service. For non-tuberculous children of School age it is open to the local education authorities to provide orthopædic treatment in accordance with arrangements sanctioned by the Board of Education. An Exchequer grant is available in aid of these services amounting to 50 per cent. of the approved expenditure of the local authorities.