HC Deb 02 March 1939 vol 344 c1486W
Sir W. Jenkins

asked the Minister of Health what number of children were born blind, and what number suffered from defective eyesight up to five years of age, in England and Wales, giving Wales separately, in 1924, 1930, 1936, and to the latest available date?

Mr. Elliot

The only particulars available are those of the number of registered blind persons in various age groups and there is no classification of such persons according to the degree of blindness. Following is a tabular statement giving such information as is in the possession of my Department.

Number of Registered Blind Children in the age group 0–5 years.
England and Wales. Wales.
0–1 year. 1–5 years. 0–1 year. 1–5 years.
1923 231 21
1925 257 20
1930 13 254 19
1936 10 196 1 13
1938 11 184 2 14

Particulars in respect of the year 1924 are not available. The age group "0–5 years" which was adopted up to and including 1939, was then sub-divided as shown above.