§ MR. RUTHERFORD (Lancashire, Darwen)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he can say what is the minimum number of attendances a child has to make before being employed full time in a factory or workshop, and whether the provisions of the Elementary Education Act, 1900, are retrospective regarding an attendance qualification for full time employment.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe Board of Education are advised that, since the 8th August, 1900, no child can obtain full-time exemption from school on an attendance qualification, unless such child has obtained a certificate that it has made 350 attendances, after reaching the age of five years, in not more than two schools during each year for five years, whether consecutive or not.
§ MR. RUTHERFORDCan the right hon. Gentleman answer the second paragraph?
§ SIR J. GORSTI do not know what the hon. Member means by the word "retrospective." I have given the effect of it.