asked the Parliamentary-Secretary to the Board of Education what shelter from air-raids has been provided for the elementary schools in the borough of Worthing, and what action the Board have taken in connection therewith?

So far as the Board are aware no shelter has been provided for the elementary schools at Worthing. The town is a reception area and no action has been taken by the Board in the matter, which is one for the discretion of the local education authority in consultation with the local A.R.P. authority.

Will the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of his hon. Friend to the fact that the West Sussex County Council has provided air-raid protection for the secondary school in Worthing, and that the parents of the children attending the elementary schools in that borough believe that their children are at least as valuable as secondary school children?

I am aware that the West Sussex authority, who are responsible for higher education in the Worthing area, decided that shelter provision should be made in respect of the high school but, as I have said, the provision of shelter for elementary schools is within the discretion of the Worthing local authority, in consultation with the local A.R.P. authority.

Will the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the local authority to what has been done by the West Sussex authority in the case of the secondary schools?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will do so.