43. Viscountess ASTORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the total number of 1166 children who entered school at the age of five last year after attending open-air nursery schools; and what proportion of these were free from mental or physical defects?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI am afraid no information is available which would enable me to give the figures in question, but I am aware that certain data may be obtained by individual authorities in the course of their administration of the School Medical Service, and I should be happy to send the Noble Lady any information on the subject which may be available.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not true that, of the children entering in the ordinary way, 37 per cent. are physically defective in some way or other, while, of those who come from open-air nursery schools, only 7 per cent. have any physical defect; and would it not be a very good thing for the Government to go on encouraging open-air nursery schools during this terrible depression?