§ 36. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education how Many local education authorities have made complete provision for the number of mentally defective children under their jurisdiction; how many have made partial provision; and how many have not yet made any provision?
§ Lord E. PERCYIn the case of about 33 local education authorities the provision for the education in special schools of mentally defective children was fairly complete in 1925, the latest period for which returns are available; partial provision was made by some 175 authorities, and 110 authorities had made no provision. In addition, about 50 authorities, including some of those who had made no special school provision, had arranged for the supervision of mentally defective children in their areas.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs it not about time some action was taken with these 110 authorities, who have not made any provision to fulfil their legal obligations?
§ Lord E. PERCYI agree some action should be taken to see that authorities fulfil their statutory obligations, but it must be remembered that many of these 110 authorities are very small Part III authorities who will probably have such a small number of children in their area that special school accommodation is impossible.
§ Mr. MORRISONWill the Noble Lord consider making representations to these authorities drawing attention to the fact that they are not fulfilling their statutory obligations?
§ Lord E. PERCYI assure the hon. Member that the Board are constantly in communication with these and other authorities.
§ Mr. COVEHas the Noble Lord done anything to discourage these authorities from making effective provision?
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESWould it be possible for some of these small authorities which are contiguous to have joint authorities?
§ Lord E. PERCYYes, that would be possible, and it is possible for them to contribute to sending their children to privately-owned schools.
§ 37. Mr. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education if he will give the present estimated number of mentally-defective children who might benefit by admission to special schools; how many o these children are at present in special schools; how many are in public elementary schools; how many in other institutions; and how many are not attending any school?
§ Lord E. PERCYIt is not possible to estimate the number of mentally-defective children who might benefit by admission to special schools; but of about 33,000 mentally-defective children classed as educable, in England and Wales, in 1925, 15,773 were attending special schools; 12,470 were at public elementary schools; 860 were at other institutions; and 3,872 were not attending any school. The accommodation in mentally - defective schools on 31st March, 1925, was 16,746 and on 31st March, 1926, 17,154.
§ Mr. MORRISONDoes the Noble Lord not think, seeing that there are 15,000 mentally-defective children attending ordinary schools, that that is a state of affairs which is not fair, either to the teachers who have to teach the children or to the ether children in the schools?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe actual figure is 12,000, not 15,000. Tie answer to the hon. Member's question depends to a very great extent upon the degree of the mental defect. I agree that those children who are so backward that they cannot be dealt with in the ordinary elementary schools, ought to have special provision made for them.