§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the President of the Board of Education what number of black-listed schools there is in Wales, giving each county separately; what steps he is taking to abolish all such schools and is he preparing a plan to improve the accommodation, better light, better ventilation, plentiful supply of water for all school purposes, better sanitation, more open spaces for recreation, provision for school feeding; what action he is taking to provide nursery schools; is he considering holiday camps for elementary secondary schoolchildren; and is he aware that a large number of schools in Wales are in a deplorable state and much out of date?
§ Mr. ButlerOf the 268 schools in Wales and Monmouthshire which were included in the black list issued in 1925, 89 remain on the list. I am sending to the hon. Member a statement showing the number of such schools in the area of each local education authority. I am aware that a large number of schools in addition to these must be regarded as unsatisfactory, judged by modern standards. Before the outbreak of war the Board were pressing steadily for the improvement or replacement of black list schools in Wales, and definite proposals were under consideration in many cases. Since then only comparatively small improvements of an exceptionally urgent character have been practicable, and the need for restricting building operations not immediately necessary for the prosecution of the war renders it impossible for the present to make further substantial progress. For the same reason the immediate provision of additional nursery schools and holiday camps is also impracticable. But my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is pressing local authorities to provide wartime nurseries for children under five. The Board have urged local education authorities to provide free meals for all under-nourished necessitous schoolchildren and to expand greatly their provision of meals for payment.