§ 56. Captain NORTHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state what was the number of children under the age of five attending elementary schools during 1932; what was the approximate cost resulting from such attendance; and what are the estimated comparative figures for 1033?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)The average attendance of children under five years of age in public elementary schools during 1931–32 was 125,500. The estimated corresponding figure for 1933–34 is 121,600. My Noble Friend regrets that he has no information available on which to estimate the separate cost resulting from the attendance of these children.
Viscountess ASTORWill the hon. Member see that there is no curtailment in the facilities for young children, because, owing to the deplorable housing conditions, the only place that many of 677 them have to play in is the street Therefore, any economy over them will be a national menace.