Mr. TEMPLE MORRISasked the Minister of Labour whether medical inspection and treatment is now available for boys and young men attending instructional centres in the special areas; and, in that case, by whom is the cost provided?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to persons in attendance at junior instruction centres and not to adults. Proposals submitted by education authorities for the establishment and conduct of authorised courses of instruction, including junior instruction centres, may include provisions under which any boy or girl may be referred by the superintendent of the course to the school medical officer, with a view to such inspection and, in England and Wales, such treatment as may be found desirable. I have approved proposals including provisions—of varying extent—for medical services from the following authorities in the special areas: education authorities for the administrative counties of Durham, Northumberland, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Ayrshire, Dunbarton, and from the education authorities for the county boroughs of Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland and Merthyr Tydfil. I intend, at an early date, to issue to all authorities conducting authorised courses of instruction a memorandum dealing with the provision of medical services in connection with junior instruction centres, and it is my hope that this will lead to a marked increase in the number and scope of proposals of this kind.