§ 97. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Minister of Education how many children in Northamptonshire are waiting for places at special schools; and what action she intends to take on the proposal of the Northamptonshire Education Committee in their recent review of 1952–53 expenditure to postpone, until September, 1953, the opening of a residential special school at Loddington Hall.
§ Miss HorsbrughOn the 1st December last there were, according to returns submitted by the local education authority, 150 handicapped children awaiting places in special schools, of whom 134 were educationally sub-normal.
I approved plans for the adaptation of Loddington Hall on 19th January, 1952. I have not been informed by the authority 56W that they have decided to defer carrying out the work, but on my present information I should not regard the postponement of this proposal as justifiable.
§ 99. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the need not to reduce the standard of efficiency in the School Health Service; and what action she intends to take on the proposal of the Northamptonshire Education Committee in their recent review of 1952–53 expenditure to omit from their forecast provision for an additional medical officer and for £1,552 to be spent on drugs, medical requisites and apparatus.
§ Miss HorsbrughYes. I understand that for three years the authority have provided in their estimates for an additional post of school medical officer, but that this officer is no longer needed as the work done by his predecessor, which was mainly ophthalmic, is now carried out for the local education authority by the National Health Service. The authority have therefore now omitted this item from their estimates and I do not consider that I need take any action in the matter. The sum of £1,552 is for the provision and equipment of the mobile dental clinic referred to by the hon. and learned Member in his previous Question.