§ 75. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education the number of educationally sub-normal children awaiting admission to schools especially catering for them in Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham, London, and Leeds.
§ Mr. VosperThe latest figures available are those for December, 1954. The following is the information:
NUMBERS OF CHILDREN ASCERTAINED AS REQUIRING PLACES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL PUPILS AS AT 1.12.54 IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:— Area Day Boarding Total Manchester 219 14 233 Liverpool 578 17 595 Sheffield 33 3 36 Bristol 27 2 29 Birmingham 27 21 48 London — 67 67 Leeds 53 10 63 Total 937 134 1,071 These figures do not reflect the situation in different areas in strictly comparable terms, since the practice of authorities varies to the extent to which they ascertain children as requiring special school places in advance of the date on which places are likely to become available.