§ 41. Mr. SCURRasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board as to the deterioration in the physical standard of children in rural areas; and whether, in view of the effects on the nation, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe Report in question, while stating that there was a substantial degree of physical impairment amongst rural children, added that there were good grounds for believing that on the whole there was improvement, and, in some rural areas, great improvement. The remedy lies in the main along the lines on which the Board and local authorities have been steadily working in the past and what is needed is perseverance on these lines, especially in regard to the replacement of unhealthy school buildings, rather than any new departure of policy. As regards the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation that children under six years of age in rural areas should be discouraged from attendance at school in certain circumstances, my right hon. Friend is considering whether there is any advice which he can usefully tender to local authorities on this point.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHow will it be possible for local education authorities to deal adequately with these insanitary schools while Memorandum 44 remains in force?