71. Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDasked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that Circular 1245 of the Board of Education was not a decision to limit the expenditure on the education of blind and deaf children to the exclusion of any such children from attendance at suitable schools, but was intended merely as a warning that it might become necessary to do so, and in view of the fact that already certain education committees have accepted the circular as a decision of the Board, and are actually keeping blind and deaf children from instruction, he will either withdraw the circular or inform local education authorities that their duties under the Act of 1893, and the Education Acts generally affecting these children, remain as heretofore, and that the Board, until Parliament enacts otherwise, will continue to bear their present proportion of the expense of the education of all blind or deaf children needing such education?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)I do not think that there is any such general misapprehension of the position as the hon. and gallant Member suggests. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that the Board's ability to pay grant in respect of the education of blind and deaf children depends upon the provision made by Parliament for the purpose. I have every hope that means may be found to prevent any diminution of the numbers of children in attendance at schools for the blind and deaf.