§ 67. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated blind population of Singapore and Malaya; how many have been recorded as blind; how many schools for blind children and workshops for blind adults there are; and what action is being taken to improve the training of both blind children and adults.
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Mr. DugdaleNo reliable estimate has yet been made of the blind population of these territories. So far 240 persons have been registered as blind in Singapore and 12,000 in the Federation. There is one school for blind children in the Federation. No workshops for blind adults yet exist in either territory, but some training is carried on in such centres as the Nantina Home in Singapore.
In each territory a committee set up under Government auspices is formulating plans for the improvement in the care and training of the blind. My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor of Singapore and the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya to keep him fully informed as to their progress.