§ 16 and 17. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education (1) the number of London special schools for mentally defective children which have been closed during the past five years;
(2) the number of mentally defective children at present on the roll of London special schools, and the corresponding number for 1918?
§ Lord E. PERCYSince the 1st April, 1923, 18 London special schools for mentally defective children, providing 1,332 places, have been closed. The number of children on the rolls of special schools for mentally defective children has fallen from 6,994 on the 31st March, 1924, to 5,594 on the 31st March, 1928. The corresponding figure on the 31st March, 1918, was 7,004. I may add that the standard of ascertainment of mentally defective children in public elementary schools in London has remained practically constant for several years and the number of children so ascertained has fallen from 12.64 per thousand in 1923 to 11.22 per thousand in 1927.