§ 20. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education how many education authorities have made special provision for the education of blind and partially blind children under their jurisdiction; how many have made partial provision; and how many have not yet made any provision?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)It is not possible to give exact figures. The provision made in certified special 1341 schools for totally blind children between the ages of five and sixteen is, generally speaking, complete. In the case of partially blind children the provision is not generally complete. Thirteen authorities have provided special schools for their partially blind children, and, in addition, there are some 15 to 20 authorities who either admit all their partially blind children to, their own schools for the blind or send them to other blind schools or institutions. In a number of the smaller areas no partially blind children have been ascertained.
§ 21. Mr. MORRISONalso asked the President of the Board of Education the present estimated number of blind or partially blind 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; how many in residential institutions; and how many are not attending any school?
§ Lord E. PERCYAs 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:
| Partially | ||
| Blind. | Blind. | |
| Total number of blind and partially blind children ascertained by local education authorities in 1925 | 2,000 | 4,692 |
| Number attending special schools | 1,642 | 2,258 |
| Number attending public elementary schools | 63* | 2,069 |
| Number in other institutions | 33 | 26 |
| N umber not attending any school | 262* | 339 |
| * The fact that these children are not attending special schools is due in the main to the unwillingness of the parents to have their children sent to residential schools. |
§ 26. Mr. SHORTasked the President of the Board of Education what was the number of sightless children of elementary school age on the 31st December, 1926?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe number of totally blind children between the ages of five 1342 and 16 ascertained by the local authorities during the year ended 31st December, 1925, the last year for which complete returns are available, was 2,000.