Mr. LEICESTER HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary for Scotland what steps, if any, he proposes to take to carry out the recommendations contained in the Report on the medical inspection of school children in Scotland by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie, particularly as to the increase of cloak-room accommodation, methods of cleaning, and sanitary accommodation, the present condition of which are described therein as being responsible for disease and infection?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs regards cloak-room and sanitary accommodation, adequate provision has been made for many years in the case of all new schools erected according to plans approved by the Scotch Education Department. The Department have also in a Memorandum, issued in 1907, stated precisely what in their view ought to be done as regards the cleansing and disinfecting of schools. There are, however, a considerable number of older schools in which the cloakroom and sanitary accommodation is unsatisfactory, and it appears from the Reports of His Majesty's inspectors that many school boards are dilatory and negligent as regards the periodical cleansing of1380W schools. I propose, therefore, to issue instructions that whenever serious defects as regards any of these matters have been observed by the school medical officer, they shall be reported forthwith to His Majesty's inspector for the district, who will after such further inquiry as he may think necessary, take steps under Article 32 of the Code to require managers to provide the necessary accommodation, or to secure the proper cleansing of the schools under penalty of reduction of Grant.