§ 31. Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in many of the schools in the poorest and overcrowded areas, children suffering with defective eyesight are not supplied with eyeglasses for many months; and will he consider communicating with various local authorities instructing them to give the headmasters or headmistresses the power to immediately purchase eyeglasses for these children, pending settlement of the question whether the councils or the guardians shall eventually be made responsible for payment?
§ Lord E. PERCYNo, Sir. The need for the prompt provision of spectacles has been frequently brought to the attention of the local education authorities and I believe that, generally speaking, they appreciate the importance of this point.
§ Mr. DAYIs the noble Lord aware that in many cases these children are very greatly handicapped, and, if I send him cases where children have been kept without glasses for many months, will he give the matter his immediate attention?
§ Lord E. PERCYI will give my immediate attention to anything the hon. Member sends me. I know there are, for many reasons, though not mainly for the reason suggested in the question, delays of various kinds, and we are constantly trying to minimise them.
§ Mr. DAYI will send the Noble Lord instances. Has he not some fund out of which he can authorise headmasters and mistresses to purchase spectacles for children in the poorer schools?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have no fund, and I do not think that suggestion would, as a matter of fact, meet the difficulties that arise.