77. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Education how many schemes of local educational authorities for the provision of open-air schools and for schools for the mentally defective scholars had been held up by his Department during the last five years; and what prospect is there of his sanctioning the same or any similar schemes during the next few years, in view of the recommendations of the National Economy Committee which have been adopted by the Government?
§ Mr. FISHERUntil the end of 1920 the Board did not withhold their approval of proposals by local education authorities for the provision of schools of the kind referred to unless the proposals were in themselves unsatisfactory. No record has been kept of the number of cases in which approval was withheld before that date. Since the beginning of 1921 the Board have been obliged, by financial considerations, to suspend approval of proposals for the provision of 28 open-air schools and 19 schools for mentally defective children. I regret that I am unable to say how soon it will be possible to authorise new expenditure on institutions of these types.