§ Mr. HOLLINSasked the President of of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities which have established nursery schools, open-air residential schools, open-air schools, and schools for mentally-defective children, and the respective percentages to the total number of local education authorities; and whether he will consider the desirability of collaborating with the Minister of Health in co-ordinating the services in respect of mentally-defective and delicate and tuberculous children?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe appended table shows the number of local authorities who have established schools of the types mentioned by the hon. Member:
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— Number of Local Authorities. Percentage of total number of Local Authorities. Nursery Schools 8 2.5 Residential Open-Air Schools. 10 3.1 Day Open-Air Schools 41 12.9 Residential Schools for Mentally Defective Children. 7 2.2 Day Schools for Mentally Defective Children. 75 23.6 The figures for open-air schools relate only to schools for the education, under open-air conditions, of delicate and debilitated children suffering from non-infectious conditions, including open-air schools, which provide medical treatment and care. In addition, in a number of areas such as London and Manchester, classes more or less on open-air lines, attached to public elementary schools, have been started for young or delicate children. Residential schools for both mentally and physically defective children are, of course, attended by children from a considerable number of areas. The hon. Member will find details in the official list (List 42) of certified special schools, a copy of which I am sending him. As regards the last part of the question, arrangements for co-ordination in respect of the services referred to already exist between my Depatment, the Ministry of Health, and the Board of Control.
§ Mr. HOLLINSasked the Minister of Health the number of local governing bodies, and the percentage of the whole, which have made provision for the institutional treatment of tuberculous children and mentally deficient children; and whether the education of the children is continued during the time they are in the institution?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAll tuberculosis authorities include in their schemes for the treatment of tuberculosis provision for the institutional treatment of tuberculous children. Of the 125 local authorities under the Mental Deficiency Acts, 21 have made direct provision of institutional accommodation for children, and others have made provision for the accom-2070W modation of children by contracting either with the managers of privately-owned institutions or with Poor Law authorities. Education is provided for tuberculous children who make more than a brief stay in a sanatorium, and education and training suited to their capacity is in all cases provided for mentally deficient children while they are under care in an institution.