Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received any reply from the Lancashire education authority with respect to his inquiry as to their provision of secretaries for school medical officers: and, if so, has he come to any decision as to the necessity or otherwise for such appointments?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have received a report on this subject. I understand that the 15 clerks employed as secretaries discharge a number of duties which, in other areas, fall upon the headquarters clerical staff and they are, therefore, not to be regarded as a net addition to the staff required for the purposes of the School Medical Service. I hardly think the Board are called upon to pronounce an opinion on the merits of minor administrative arrangements of this kind, which must necessarily be left to the discretion of the authority.