§ Mr. Stephenasked the Secretary of State for Scotand how many children of school age in Glasgow are not evacuated and are being denied any educational facilities at present; and whether he can give an estimate of the total number of children who have returned to the city from evacuation areas?
§ Mr. ColvilleNinety-four thousand five hundred children on the rolls of schools under the management of the Glasgow education authority did not participate in the evacuation scheme. I informed the education authority on the 23rd September, that, subject to certain safeguards, the secondary departments of schools providing five-year secondary courses might be reopened for all purposes. I have now received proposals from the education authority for the reopening of the secondary departments of 27 such schools, and approval of the proposals has been given in the case of 24 schools and part of another as soon as suitable and adequate air-raid protection has been provided. Meanwhile secondary pupils have been receiving instruction in small groups. Primary schools are at present opening only for purposes of 1247W registration, medical inspection and treatment, and the feeding of necessitous children, but the question of their limited reopening for lessons is under consideration. With regard to the last part of the question, I hope shortly to be in a position to estimate the number of children who have returned.