§ LORD J. JOICEY-CECIL (Lincolnshire' Stamford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, having regard to the difficulties experienced by the labouring classes in the agricultural districts in providing necessaries for their families owing to their small earnings, he will consider the advisability of authorising the local educational authorities to allow boys of twelve years of age to leave school provided they can get employment at not less than 5s. per week, so as to contribute to the up-keep of the family and complete their education by attending night school.
§ MR. LOUGHUnder the Elementary Education Act, 1899, it is permissible for a Local Education Authority to adopt a by-law allowing half-time exemption to children employed in agriculture on reaching eleven years of age. I do not consider that any extension of this power is necessary at the present time.