HC Deb 13 December 1957 vol 579 cc169-70W
Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Education how many backward children are being educated in special education sub-normal schools; and what percentage this represents, in terms of the total number of children in England and Wales, who should be in this type of school.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

In January, 1957, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 26,362 children in special schools for educationally sub-normal pupils. Whilst opinions vary about the proportion of educationally sub-normal children who require to attend special schools, this represented approximately two-thirds of the total number of pupils for whom at the same date the local education authorities considered places were needed.