54. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Education how many school books under the control of the Cumberland Education Committee have been in constant use for one year, two years, three years, and over three years, respectively; and whether his Department have any particulars of the effect of the continuous use of old school books upon the spread of infectious diseases in schools?
Major DAVIES (Vice-Chamberlain of the Household)My right hon. Friend regrets that he has no information on the first part of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second part, while the continued use of old and soiled books in public elementary schools is to be deplored, my right hon. Friend has no grounds for suspecting that infectious diseases have spread by that means.