HC Deb 16 July 1931 vol 255 cc753-4
32. Mrs. MANNING

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local authorities were refused permission to build special schools for mentally-defective children in each of the years 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

In the years in question the numbers of local authorities who approached the Board regarding the provision of special schools for men- tally defective children and were advised not to proceed, were as follow:

In 1926 … … … … 1
In 1927 … … … … 8
In 1928 … … … … 2
In 1929 … … … … 1
Since the end of January, 1929, the Board have approved any proposals submitted.

Mrs. MANNING

Were these refusals made out of a sense of sympathy with the local education authorities; I think that that was the answer which the hon. Gentleman gave me last week?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

The refusals to which I am referring were made under a previous Administration, and I understand that the reason was that the report on mental deficiency was being prepared.