HC Deb 25 February 1937 vol 320 cc2179-80
55. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Health which local authorities in Northumberland have taken advantage of their powers under the Local Government Act, 1925, to make provision for the treatment and prevention of blindness?

Sir K. Wood

Under Section 66 of the Public Health Act, 1925, which I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind, arrangements for the prevention of blindness and the treatment of persons suffering from disease of, or injury to, the eyes have been made by the county council of Northumberland but not, so far as I am aware, by any other local authority in that county.

Miss Ward

In view of the fact that members of a Northumberland education committee have out of their own pockets recently supplied spectacles for a child, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to how far the provisions 4 the Act have been put into operation, and will he make a general inquiry of all councils as to whether the provisions of the Act are being carried out?

Sir K. Wood

I think I had better make the first inquiry first, and if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case I will gladly deal with it.