§ 12. Mr. TREVELYANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has obtained the names of those schools referred to on page 71 of Sir George Newman's Report on the Health of the School Child for the year 1925 as being entirely without any water supply; and what steps he has taken to require a water supply to he provided in them?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have obtained the names of the Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire schools referred to. A number of the schools are included in the Black List survey, and in some cases a water supply has now been laid on. In the large majority of the cases a supply of water, though not actually laid on to the school, is available in the immediate vicinity, often in adjoining premises, and there are very few cases where water has to be carried from any distance. The right hon. Member will, moreover, realise that the water supply at a village school very frequently depends upon the supply available for the village generally and cannot be dealt with by the school authorities as a separate problem.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONWill the Noble Lord consider the question of refusing a grant to a school where it is possible to place water, but where no water is placed?
§ the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association and situated in Breconshire (two schools), Carmarthen-shire, Pembrokeshire and Cardiff. The average numbers of children on the registers of schools for mentally defective and physically defective children in Wales and Monmouthshire in 1909–10, 1919–20 and 1926–27 (the latest date for which complete returns are available) were as follow:—
§ Lord E. PERCYWhere the water can be placed there, and is not placed there, I propose to see, so far as possible, that the water is placed there, but there is no call to talk about withdrawal of grant.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONIs the Noble Lord aware that this has been going on for very many years and that the children are suffering all the while?
§ Lord E. PERCYYes, I know, but for very many years we did not have a Black List of schools, whereas now we have got one.
§ 13. Mr. WELLOCKasked the President of the Board of Education whether any steps have been taken by the Board to secure the supply of hot water in public elementary schools, more especially in infant departments; and what is the Board's policy in the matter?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe Board fully recognise the desirability of providing a supply of hot water, especially in infants' schools, and it is their practice to suggest that it should he provided in all cases where it appears reasonably practicable to do so.
§ Mr. WELLOCKCan the Noble Lord not enforce it with regard to all new schools?
§ Lord E. PERCYWhere it is reasonably practicable to do so, and in my reply to the hon. Member's question I painted out the difficulties where water is not laid on. You cannot lay down any general rule in the matter.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes the Noble Lord realise that there is a great number of schools where there is hot water for heating purposes, but no hot wafer for washing purposes, and will he suggest to the local education authorities that it is desirable to have hot water for washing purposes where it is so easily available?
§ Lord E. PERCYAs I have said, that is precisely what I am suggesting.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes the Noble Lord not realise that a good supply of pure water is of very great importance and fundamental to the health of the children?