30. Viscountess ASTORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the total number of children who entered school at five years of age last year; and what proportion of them were suffering from mental or physical defects?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)I have no information which would enable me to give the precise figures asked for. Of all children who entered public elementary schools for the first time in 1931—the last year for which information is available—19.4 per cent, were found to require some form of medical treatment. The corresponding figures showing the proportion suffering from mental defects are not available. Such defects are frequently not diagnosed until a later stage.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not true that the Chief Medical Officer in his report says that 27 per cent, of the juveniles in elementary schools are physically defective, and also that there are diseases which could be easily prevented, and that the best way to treat them is by open air nursery schools? Do not the Government think that this is a good time to establish open air nursery schools?