§ 70. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education how many pupils in the last statistical year left certified special schools at the ages of 14, 15, and 16. respectively?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)I regret that the information at my disposal does not enable me to supply the particulars for which the hon. Member asks.
§ Mr. MORRISONIn view of the fact that a large number of education authorities, apparently, instead of keeping mentally defective children until the age of 16, as they ought to do, are allowing them to go at the age of 14, will the Noble Lord endeavour to get some figures in regard to this question?
§ Lord E. PERCYI hesitate to ask local education authorities to supply these statistics. I do not know why the hon. Member says that all defective children should be kept by the local authorities until they are 16.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs the President of the Board of Education satisfied that the after-care arrangements for these children are adequate?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am afraid that point does not arise out of the question. The whole matter of adjustment between special schools and after-care is one of the very matters into which we are inquiring at the present moment.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs there no information as to what becomes of these children after they leave the schools?
§ Lord E. PERCYThat is another question. If the hon. Member gives me notice, I shall he glad to give him what information I can supply upon it.