HC Deb 19 March 1931 vol 249 cc2127-8
29. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total number of children needing medical and dental treatment, separately, on entering school at five years; and the percentage in each case for the last known year?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

In 1929, of the children who were medically examined on entering school, 128,000, or 20.3 per cent., were found to require some form of medical treatment. There is no universal dental examination of children entering the schools, and I am therefore unable to give corresponding figures as regards dental treatment.

Mr. FREEMAN

Do not those figures show that a high proportion of these children require treatment, and does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate taking any action to remedy that state of affairs?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

The hon. Member will realise that the position is that these children require treatment before they come within the purview of the Board of Education, and the remedy is at the Ministry of Health. As a result of the action of the Ministry of Health, the proportion is far smaller than it was before the War.

Mr. FREEMAN

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any action to deal with children before they reach the age of 5?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

That is a different matter.

Miss LEE

Does not the Minister think that, if these children were put into nursery schools where they would get medical attention, it would reduce that figure very considerably?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

Well, yes; but the whole question of nursery schools is at present under investigation by a committee of the Department.