HC Deb 04 April 1944 vol 398 cc1940-1

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. Rhys Davies (Westhoughton)

I notice that in this Clause the Mental Deficiency Act is mentioned, and I would like to ask the representative of the Board of Education whether this Bill will provide a better system of dealing with these little ones called mental deficients. I only want to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether this Clause, and the earlier Clauses dealing with the problem, will in fact improve on the present system of dealing with this type of child.

Mr. Ede

This Clause only exempts people under the Mentally Deficient and similar Acts from penalties that might fall on them if they do not discharge their duties as parents or in other ways under the Act. We have had a very long discussion on Clauses 31 and 32 when dealing with special schools for children who are the subject of special difficulties, including mentally deficient children, and I am sure that the Committee would not like me to repeat now the convincing speeches I made on those Clauses.

Question "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.