§ Mr. Martinasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the increasing evidence of demoralisation and mental and physical loss amongst school children in London, he will take steps to get more school buildings liberated from war uses after Easter and to see that all children of school age then attend daily sessions?
Mr. LindsayYes, Sir; active steps are being taken in this matter. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, has urged local A.R.P. authorities to release school buildings used for Civil Defence purposes and arrangements are being made in London accordingly. Similar arrangements are being made in respect of the much smaller number of schools occupied by other services. I understand that the London County Council hope to have all elementary school children of eight years of age and upwards in school by Easter and the rest of the younger children by the middle of May.