§ Mr. JOELasked the President of the Board of Education what proportion of 923W the elementary schools in Great Britain are provided with playing-fields; and what steps are taken by his Department to encourage the provision of playing-fields for elementary schools not now in possession of them?
Mr. STANLEYI regret that I have no figures which would enable me to answer the first part of my hon. Friend's question. As regards the second part, for many years past the Board of Education have emphasised the importance of adequate playing-fields for public elementary school children in England and Wales, particularly for the older boys and girls, and I am glad to say that the local education authorities and the school managers generally are showing an increasing regard to this matter. In this connection I would call my hon. Friend's attention to the Board's pamphlet on school playing-fields, of which I am sending him a copy.