§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the tabulation of the statistics of the Census, he will direct that a compilation shall be made of the number of children of school age under the Elementary Education Acts?
§ * MR. RITCHIEThe question whether the ages of children between 10 and 15 years should be separately shown in the Census Returns, instead of the children being included in one group, was considered by the Census Committee; but they did not deem it necessary to recommend that this should be done, the views 911 of the Registrar General's Department being distinctly opposed to the proposal.
§ MR. THOMAS ELLIS (Merionethshire)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that School Boards are constantly put to large expense by the making of these local inquiries in conformity with the regulations of the Education Department, and, in view of this expenditure and in the interest of public education, will he re consider this matter, and have a separate heading for school children on the Census Paper?
§ * MR. RITCHIEI have not come to any decision on the matter. The question only appeared on the Paper to-day. We have given effect to the Report of the Census Committee, but it is quite open to us to re-consider the matter in regard to school children.