§ 57. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education the present estimated number of deaf and partially deaf children who might benefit by admission to special schools; how many of these children are at present in special schools; how many in public elementary schools; and how many are not attending any school?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)As the reply to this question consists largely of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
| Deaf. | Partially Deaf. | |
| Total number of deaf and partially deaf children ascertained by local education authorities in 1925 | 4,154 | 2,170 |
| Number attending special schools | 3,551 | 445 |
| Number attending public elementary schools | 319* | 1,632 |
| Number not attending any school | 247* | 80 |
| * The fact that these children are not attending special schools is due, in the main, either to the unwillingness of the parents to have their children sent to residential schools, or to the children being under the age at which the obligation of deaf children to attend school begins. |
| — | Blind. | Deaf. | Mentally Defective. | Physically Defective. | Epileptic. | Total. |
| Number of Certified Special Schools on 31st March, 1926. | 75 | 49 | 192 | 233 | 6 | 555 |
| Number of Children on the Registers on 31st March, 1925. | 3,782 | 4,175 | 15,951 | 17,422 | 509 | 41,839 |
| Estimated number of children on the Registers on 31st March, 1926. | 3,919 | 4,230 | 16,331 | 18,804 | 520 | 43,804 |
§ Complete returns for she year ended 31st March, 1926, are not yet available, and the estimate given above is approximate only.