§ CAPTAIN CLIVEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education 1584 whether his attention has been called to the action of the Staffordshire Education Committee in prosecuting 174 parents and guardians for not sanding their children to school during the hop-picking season; whether he is aware that these prosecutions have been undertaken annually without preventing a recurrence of the offence; and whether he will make it possible, by legislation or otherwise, for town children to enjoy this health-giving holiday without breaking the law.
§ MR. RUNCIMANNo, Sir; so far as I can find out, the attention of the Board of Education has not been called to any of the matters referred to in the Question. The duty of carrying out the law of school attendance and of enforcing the local bye-laws does not rest with my Department. It is within the powers of a local education authority to make various arrangements if they think fit to do so for dealing with this matter, by bye-laws, or by arranging the time for school holidays, without any fresh legislation.
§ MR. COURTHOPEWill the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the local education authorities that an extension of holidays might be given in these cases?
§ MR. RUNCIMANI have inquired into the matter and do not see any immediate necessity for my intervention.
§ MR. CLELAND (Glasgow, Bridgeton)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Scotland the holidays are arranged so as to enable children to work during these seasons?
§ MR. RUNCIMANI believe it is so, and I see no reason why something of the same kind should not be done in England.