§ 35. Mr. ALBERYasked the President of the Board of Education what accommodation in public institutions is available for epileptic children in England; and what accommodation is available in Kent?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThere are six residential special schools for epileptic children certified by the Board of Education, providing altogether accommodation for 609 children. None of these schools is situated in Kent, but most of them admit children from any area. Provision is also made, in certain institutions for mentally defective children, for cases in which mental defect is combined with epilepsy.
§ Mr. ALBERYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable shortage in accommodation and a very long waiting list of patients, and can anything be done to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI have made inquiries, and I find that that is the case. At present the Board offers a grant of 50 per cent. to any local authority or voluntary association establishing these schools, and I hope that the result of that grant will be an increase in accommodation.
§ Mr. ALBERYWill the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of some of the local authorities to this provision?