§ 30. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the public anxiety caused by the Report by the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Education about the unsatisfactory conditions in some open-air schools for delicate children; if she will make a statement naming the schools to which the complaints apply; and what action she proposes to take to deal with the situation.
§ The Minister of Education (Miss Florence Horsbrugh)Yes, Sir, but as explained in the Report the survey was made in 1949 and 1950, and the Report was published in order to stimulate thought about the regime best suited to these schools. It would be misleading to name particular schools now. Their more serious shortcomings have been or are being remedied, and my medical officers will continue to pay special attention to them.
§ Mr. DoddsCan the right hon. Lady give an assurance that this Report will not be taken as a reason for getting rid of the open-air schools? They have done excellent work in dealing with thousands of delicate children.
§ Miss HorsbrughI quite agree. The Report makes it clear that many of these schools are doing excellent work and that most of the children appear to benefit in the most austere schools. There is no question but that an open-air régime, sensibly applied, is beneficial.
§ Mr. DoddsThat does not answer my question. I asked the right hon. Lady if there would be an abolition of these open-air schools following this Report.
§ Miss HorsbrughCertainly not.
§ Brigadier MedlicottIs it not a fact that most, if not all, the schools to which this Report draws attention are administered by the London County Council and that it is that authority and not the Ministry which, at least in the first instance, is primarily responsible?
§ Miss HorsbrughIt is certainly true that some of the schools to which reference was made in the Report were at the time of the Report—and probably still are—under the control and responsibility of the London County Council.