§ Sir H. LUCAS-TOOTHasked the President under what authority a county medical officer has the power to override the decision of the managers of a school, in a district infected with an epidemic, temporarily to close the school?
§ Lord E. PERCYI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to public elementary schools. I am advised that Section 29 (1) and Section 29 (2) (a) of the Education Act, 1921, enable the local education authority to give directions to the managers of a school as to the days on which the school is to be open. On the question of closure on medical grounds, the authority would act, of course, upon the advice or with the approval of their medical officer. My hon. Friend will find some useful information on the subject in the Memorandum on Closure of and Exclusion from School, issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and my Department, and I am sending him a copy.