69. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that there are sufficient boarding school places at the disposal of local education authorities to cater for the needs of the children of those serving overseas in the forces and 47W in the Foreign and Colonial Services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe number of places needed will vary with changing circumstances and with the criterion adopted for defining need and will also depend on parents' wishes. No useful figure of places available can be given because local education authorities need not rely solely on places in schools maintained by them. While therefore I am aware of the difficulties which my hon. Friend has in mind, I do not find it possible to make the comparison which he suggests.