§ MR. H. R. MANSFIELD (Lincolnshire, Spalding)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Local Government Board are proposing to legislate with regard to feebleminded and imbecile children; whether they are aware of the difficulty which boards of guardians are experiencing in dealing with such children; and whether a board of guardians would receive the sanction and support of the Local Government Board if it were to appoint a committee to deal with such children, not merely those of paupers, but those of parents of higher grade who are unable to deal with them.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have received representations from certain boards of guardians with regard to this matter. The subject of the imbecile and feeble-minded has been referred to a Royal Commission, who, I understand, have for some time been engaged on their Report. Pending the 512 issue of that Report I could not encourage the guardians to take action of the kind suggested in the Question, nor could I undertake to propose legislation on the subject.