§ 60. Mr. GORDON MACDONALDasked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of mentally defective children in certified institutions in England and Wales at the latest date for which the information is available, and for each of the five years ended 31st March, 1931, giving separate figures for Lancashire?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the available figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures:
§ The total number of mental defectives in certified institutions in Lancashire and in England and Wales, respectively, during the last five years was as follows:
| — | In Lancashire. | In England and Wales. |
| On the 1st January: | ||
| 1926 | 3,581 | 12,766 |
| 1927 | 3,627 | 13,342 |
| 1928 | 3,712 | 14,099 |
| 1929 | 3,770 | 14,840 |
| 1930 | 3,858 | 15,664 |
| 1931 | 3,949 | 17,200 |
§ It is regretted that separate statistics for children are not available, but it is estimated that of the total numbers given above approximately 15 per cent. are children under 16 years of age.