§ 15. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the President of the Board of Education why, having regard to the fact that the Board's medical officers, after their inspection of the Wingfield Orthopædic Hospital last April, made adverse comments to the house committee of the hospital on the efficiency and suitability of the secretary and workshops manager, they did not convey the terms of their comments to the officers concerned and afford them an opportunity of making representations in their own behalf?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)The house committee of the hospital having invited the Board's inspectors to confer with them, it rested with the hospital authorities to decide how far 574 what had passed at the discussion should be disclosed to the officers concerned and an opportunity afforded them of making representations.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the procedure adopted here, by which his inspectors reported adversely on these men without giving them an opportunity to know what the adverse report was, and these men have lost their jobs by reason of this report without having an opportunity of putting their case?
§ Lord E. PERCYYes, I am wholly satisfied with the procedure. If the hon. Member were on the governing body of an institution inspected by the Board, and asked the inspector for information at a conference, I think he would be very much surprised if the inspector refused to give him that information without having the officer concerned in the room.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs not the ordinary procedure to let the men concerned know what is put up against them?
§ Lord E. PERCYNo, Sir.