asked the President of the Board of Education whether the education of physically defective children is included in the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Bill; and, if not, whether he will extend its provisions so as to include them?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My right hon. Friend is not at present prepared to make compulsory upon local education authorities the provision of special schools for physically defective children. The hon. Member will be aware that local authorities already have power to make this provision under the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act, 1899.