§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the appointment by the Cheadle Board of Guardians and District Councils of a medical officer to take the place of six others in charge of a district of 54,000 acres and 26,000 inhabitants; whether he is aware that apprehension is felt that the health of the district must suffer; and will the change be vetoed by his Department if this apprehension is on inquiry held to be justified?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe facts are substantially as indicated in the hon. and gallant Member's question, except that the new medical officer is a whole-time officer, and those officers who had resigned and whom he replaced were only part-time officers in each case. The appointment was made jointly by the Cheadle Guardians and the Cheadle Rural District Council, whose areas coincide, and was approved by my Department for the duration of the War. The arrangement was fully considered, and appears to be the best practicable in existing circumstances. While I do not think there is any ground for apprehending that the health of the district will suffer by the arrangement, I will have some further inquiry made in the matter.