§ 134. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Education how many deaf children there were in England and Wales unable to obtain special education; and how this figure compares with 1949 and 1948.
§ Mr. TomlinsonIt is not known how many deaf children were awaiting admission to special schools in 1948. In February, 1949, there were about 470 such children. In January, 1950, despite the fact that the number of deaf children in special schools was increased by 130, there were still some 460 children known to be awaiting admission.
§ 135. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to ensure that there are an adequate number of properly qualified teachers for the teaching of deaf children.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe number of full-time teachers in schools for the deaf and partially deaf has increased steadily from 356 to 411 between January, 1946, and January, 1949, the latest date for which I have figures. A further increase will be needed, particularly of women teachers, in the next few years to keep pace with the provision of additional 155W deaf school accommodation and the problem of meeting this need is being investigated.
§ 136. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken to obtain more foster parents for deaf children and the organisation of a list of them.
§ Mr. TomlinsonChildren who do not live within reach of a day deaf school (normally go to boarding schools, and hardly any cases have come to my notice of deaf children needing to be boarded out with foster parents in order to attend a deaf school. It would be for the local education authority to make suitable arrangements in such cases, and I have not found it necessary to take any action in the matter.