§ 40. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that all children of school age in the London and the Greater London area are now able to receive full time education; what percentage are doing so; and approximately the number of schoolchildren in this area at the present time compared with a year ago.
§ Mr. ButlerThe position as regards both school accommodation and the number of children in Greater London is constantly changing, as repairs to damaged buildings become possible and as children return home from reception areas. The latter figure is also conjectural since it is impossible immediately to trace those chldren who return under private arrangements. In these circumstances I cannot require the local education authorities concerned to furnish statistics which would of necessity be inexact.
§ Mr. SorensenHas not the Minister some kind of impression, or some approximate idea, of how many children are not receiving education just now or are receiving only part-time education?
§ Mr. ButlerThe position is not as good as I should like it to be. I cannot give the hon. Member exact statistics, but when I can give him an indication I will do so.