§ 26. Mr. TREVELYANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the number of children between three and five attending school has fallen from 223,369 in 1924–25 to 182,259 in 1925–26; and whether the Board has taken any steps to discourage the policy in London and elsewhere by which children under five are 2047 refused admission to school in congested areas without regard to the wishes of the parents or to the adequacy of the provision of nursery schools in the district?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. This is a matter which my right hon. Friend thinks is best left to the discretion of the local authorities.