86. Sir C. KUNLOCH-COOKEasked the President. of the Board of Education whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings before the Slough magistrates in a prosecution for nonattendance at school of a girl of 14 whose parents had found her a useful position as nursemaid; whether he is aware that the school term had only one week to run, at the end of which the girl would have been free to leave in the ordinary course of events: and whether he will see that the taxpayers' money is not wasted and our education system brought into disrepute by prosecutions of this kind?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)I have no information as regards the case referred to by the hon. Member. I presume that proceedings were taken in view of Section 9 (1) of the Education Act, 1918, which provides that if a child who is attending a public elementary school attains any year of age during the school term he shall not, for the purpose of any enactment or bye-law relating to school attendance, he deemed to have attained that year of age until the end of the term.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this case was cited in the newspapers at very great length, and if the officials of his Department read the papers he would be in a position to give me a proper answer? Why does not the right hon. Gentleman reply?
§ Mr. FISHERI have already answered the question. I have said I have no information with regard to this case.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhy have you not?