§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Board in 1920 sanctioned a loan of £27,000 for the building of a special school by the Barking Education Authority, and that the Board has refused to allow the school to be used to its full capacity; that this means that only 104 children instead of a possible 308 were 63W being accommodated, and this in spite of the fact that there is a waiting list of 198, including many urgent cases of cripples, mentally defective, tubercular, and delicate boys and girls; and whether, in view of the report of the medical officer to the local Education Authority on the great benefit which has already been gained by the delicate children in attendance at this school, many of whom have increased two and three pounds in weight after a short period, and the general improvement noted in all the children, and the grave waste of money as well as child life which is involved, he will sanction the request of the authority for the immediate opening of the whole school?
§ Mr. FISHERThe facts and figures in the first half of the question agree substantially with those in my possession. While, however, I fully appreciate the force of the considerations urged in the latter part of the question, I am not able, in present circumstances, to sanction the use of this school for a larger number of children in view of the heavy additional annual cost that would be involved.