HC Deb 16 March 1939 vol 345 cc583-4
44. Mr. G. Griffiths

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that, at the public inquiry held in November, 1938, at

found at the last routine nutrition inspection to be excellent, normal, slightly subnormal and bad, respectively?

Mr. Lindsay

As the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the Official Report the returns submitted by the school medical officers for the four areas in question for the year 1938.

Mr. Pilkington

Will my hon. Friend insert the figures for an earlier year, for the purpose of comparison?

Mr. Lindsay

I could get them specially for the hon. Member.

Following is the answer:

Long Crendon, to decide whether the new senior school for the district should be a provided or a non-provided school, it was shown that there were approximately twice as many parents in favour of a provided school as were in favour of a non-provided one; and why, despite this, the decision was for a non-provided school?

Mr. Lindsay

No, Sir. The report of the public inquiry shows that parents representing 183 families signed petitions against the proposed Church of England school, and parents representing between 126 and 136 families signed petitions in favour of it. At the inquiry about 35 parents appeared in support of the proposal, and about five against. The Board's decision was come to upon a balance of the three considerations to which they are directed by statute to have regard, namely, the interest of secular instruction, the wishes of parents as to the education of their children and the economy of the rates.