§ 75. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that children are being refused at Benthal Road, Northwold Road, Millfields, and Rushmore Road schools in Hackney, because no accommodation there is available; and what steps the Board of Education is prepared to take in order to give to the children of London the needed accommodation in school?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but there is accommodation available for the excluded children in the neighbouring schools.
§ Mr. PEASEThey are close by, and there are schools in each of the four districts at which the children can attend.
§ 76. Mr. KINGasked whether there is a deficiency of school accommodation for blind, deaf, mentally and physically defective children in Haggerston, Hoxton, and Hackney; and whether the right hon. Gentleman intends to call on the London Education Committee to supply school places for these special cases?
§ Mr. PEASEI am not aware that there is any deficiency of school accommodation for blind and deaf children residing in the districts in question. I am informed that the local education authority are taking steps to provide additional accommodation in certain parts of London where there is a deficiency of accommodation for mentally and physically defective children. I cannot say whether the deficiency exists in the particular districts referred to.
§ 77. Mr. KINGasked the number of schools throughout London where infants under five are being refused admission; and whether, in view of the number of rate-paying parents who desire their children to begin their education at an early age, he will call on the London education committee to supply sufficient elementary school accommodation?
§ Mr. PEASEI am unable to state the number of schools in London at which children under five years old are, from time to time, refused admission. It would, presumably, vary with the number of applications received. Under Article 53 (c) of the Code, it is for local education authorities to decide for themselves whether children under five shall be admitted, and whether they will provide accommodation for them. The hon. Member will be aware that there is much difference of opinion on the subject, and I think it is obviously one on which local education authorities are entitled to form their own opinions, having regard to the different circumstances of each locality, and the home conditions under which the children live.
§ Mr. KINGArising out of all these replies, will the right hon. Gentleman instruct some inspector to go into the whole question of the deficiency in London?
§ Mr. PEASEI am not aware that there is any deficiency in connection with the accommodation of those whom it is necessary to send to school under the Act. I believe nearly all these questions refer to children under five years of age. As the hon. Member is aware, there is no compulsion on the local authorities to provide accommodation for children under five years of age.