HC Deb 21 February 1924 vol 169 c1993W
Mr. WINDSOR

asked the President of the Board of Education if, in view of complaints received, he will issue instructions to medical officers to educational authorities that when examining school children such examination shall be in private and that information with reference to the child's health and general condition shall be private and confidential to the parents or guardian?

Mr. TREVELYAN

It has been the consistent policy of the Board to insist that the medical inspection of school children shall be conducted in private with the utmost regard for the feelings of the children and their parents. Moreover in 1908, shortly after the inception of the school medical service, the Board instructed local education authorities that all entries of the results of inspection in each individual case must be regarded as confidential and this instruction has been in force ever since. I am not aware of any complaints in this connection, but I shall be quite ready to inquire into any cases in which it is alleged that the practice advocated by the Board has not been followed.