§ 24. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education how many local education authorities have provided no accommodation up to the present for mentally defective and physically defective children; and are there any authorities without accommodation who are making provision during the current educational triennium?
Duchess of ATHOLLAccording to the information in the possession of my Department, there are 240 local education authorities who have provided no special schools of their own for mentally defective children, and 257 who have provided no special schools of their own for physically defective children; but 131 of of the former authorities and 221 of the latter send children of these types to special schools provided by other authorities or by voluntary managers, and some 200 authorities make provision for the orthopaedic treatment of crippled children. In addition, about 50 authorities have arranged for the supervision of mentally defective children in their areas. As to the second part of the question, the Board already have before them proposals for the provision of five new schools for mentally defective children and 28 new schools for physically defective children.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIs it the policy of the Board to urge the local authorities who are not yet making any provision for these unfortunate children to proceed with making such provision as rapidly as possible?
Duchess of ATHOLLIf the hon. Member will look at the Board's Reports, he will see that very considerable progress has been made in the last three and a half years in the provision of schools for physically defective children; there has been a very marked increase in the number of such schools in the last year or two. As to the question of schools for mentally defective children, the hon. Member is aware that that matter is under consideration at the present time by a Special Committee, which has not yet reported.