§ 66. Mr. PALINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that no schools are provided by the West Riding local education authority for the 528 children within their area ascertained to be mentally defective within the meaning of the Education Act, 1921, he proposes to take any steps to ensure that proper educational facilities are provided for such children?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am informed that the West Riding authority are making arrangements in accordance with the suggestion contained in Circular 1349 (of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy) for the supervision of all mentally defective children in the area whose admission to special schools cannot be secured. The matter is one which I have no doubt will be further dealt with in the programme of educational development which I have asked the authority to submit to me.
§ Mr. PALINGIs there any prospect that they are going to build schools in the West Riding? There has been nothing done for these children up to the present. Can the right hon. Gentleman push them on to do something in that direction?
§ Mr. R. MORRISONThe right hon. Gentleman said the local authority is making arrangements for supervision. Does he mean by that supervision of the education of the children?
§ Lord E. PERCYIf the hon. Member will read Section 1349 he will see what I mean. In reply to the first supplementary, I must say that I have asked the West 1079 Riding authorities, as I have asked all local authorities, to submit to me comprehensive programmes for education during the next three years, and I am not prepared to direct their attention particularly to one part of their responsibility, as I am quite sure that the programmes that I shall receive will take into account all those things.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that the supervision now merely consists in going to get a knowledge of these children and recording it, and that nothing else is done? If the supervision is going to be of that character in the future, of what use is it?