§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether in connection with remission of children from school, under the Factory Act, 1901, boys and girls have to be inspected by a medical officer under the Home Office; whether this practice has continued, even though medical inspection in now carried on under the local education authorities under their own medical officers; and, if so, whether he will now arrange that medical inspection of scholars shall in future be carried out by a single set of officers under one authority?
§ Sir JOHN SIMONThe medical examination under the Factory Acts is for the purpose of testing the fitness of the child for employment in a particular factory, and imposing any necessary conditions as to the precise kind of employment. The requirement applies to all persons under the age of sixteen, and the bulk of the examinations take place after the child has left school. The question of linking up this examination with the school medical inspection has not been overlooked, but no change in the requirements of the Factory Acts can be made without an Amendment of the Acts, and that cannot be undertaken at present.