HC Deb 17 March 1955 vol 538 cc1453-4
52. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Education if he will make available boarding school facilities, either free of cost or at considerably reduced fees, for children from the age of eight years whose parents by virtue of their service in the Colonial Service, the Armed Forces, or the Foreign Service, are compelled to live in countries which, for reasons of climate or absence of adequate facilities, are unsuitable for the education of children from the United Kingdom over the age of eight years.

Sir D. Eccles

In Administrative Memorandum No. 442, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, local education authorities were asked to pay special attention to the needs of such children and in appropriate cases to give financial assistance towards the cost of boarding education. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 10th March.

Mr. MacColl

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the authorities to the facilities of the L.C.C. school at Woolverstone Hall, and do everything he can to develop facilities there for such children?

Sir D. Eccles

I am anxious to increase the number of places for the children of those serving overseas.