§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the continued want of proper school facilities for children resident at Ladybower, Derbyshire; whether he is aware that these children, some of very tender years, are compelled to walk a lonely road in all weathers a distance of over three miles to Bamford to receive instruction; and what action, if any, it is proposed to take in the matter.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.Inquiries have been made as to the need of additional school accommodation for these children, some twenty-two in number, and I find that 981 the distance to Bamford is between one and a half and two miles. The local education authority inform me that there is sufficient accommodation in the Bamford school, and that they are, therefore, unwilling to incur the expense of providing a new school for these twenty-two children. I recognise that the distance may be the cause of some hardship, but it would not, in my opinion, be possible to lay down as a general rule that a school two miles distant cannot be regarded as available.
§ MR. J. WARDIs it not possible to find some means of conveyance for these children?
§ MR. MCKENNAI think it would be desirable for the local authority to do that.
§ MR. J. WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the local authority that they might at least do it in winter time, especially for children about five years of age.
§ MR. MCKENNAI will communicate with the local authority.