§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Hastings Education Committee have issued a form to he filled in by the parents of scholars with regard to school medical treatment; that many details of a private and family character are asked for; and that, according to this form, any person whose income exceeds a certain limit will be called upon to pay fixed charges for medical attendance of his children; and whether this action has been taken by instructions from his Department?
§ Mr. TREVELYANSection 81 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, requires a local education authority which provides medical treatment for school children to charge to the parent such an amount, not exceeding the cost of treatment, as may be determined by the local education authority. The income scale and the charges drawn up by the Hastings authority in connection with this Section of the Act were drawn up as the result of representations from the Board of Education, and have been generally approved by the Board. It is clear that the arrangements contemplated by the Act involve some inquiry of parents, but the Board have urged, in Circular 1300, that inquiry forms should only be used in doubtful cases and should be as simple as possible. I have not seen the actual forms used by the Hastings authority.