§ 60. Mr. ISAAC FOOTasked the President of the Board of Education the approximate respective number of children who are at present receiving no education because of blindness, lameness and other physical disability?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)According to the returns furnished by local education authorities, there were on 31st December, 1934, 332 blind or partially blind children in England and Wales under the age of 16, not attending any school or institution. The corresponding figure for deaf or partially deaf children was 228, and for children suffering from crippling defects or heart disease 3,560. These figures, however, require a good deal of qualification, as they include some children under the age of compulsory school attendance, some who are receiving treatment prior to admission to special schools, some whose parents are unwilling for them to be sent to residential schools, and some whose defects are so severe that their education in special schools is impracticable.
§ Mr. FOOTCan the hon. Gentleman tell us if the figures quoted to the end of 1934 are substantially less? Are they getting smaller, or do they remain the same year after year?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI am very glad to say that things are very much better than when the hon. Gentleman asked a question in 1930. The corresponding figures then, were: blind children, 557; deaf children, 305; and crippled children, 5,461—a great improvement.