§ 43. Mr. E. SIMONasked the President of the Board of Education, whether he will introduce a Bill to amend the Education Act by raising the school-leaving age to 15, to come into force at a date not later than, say, August, 1927; and whether in the meantime he will require local education authorities to encourage parents to keep their children at school between the ages of 14 and 15 by the grant of maintenance allowances where necessary?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am not prepared to propose a general raising of the school age until I have proof of a general readiness to welcome it. I have already explained that I am prepared to consider with sympathy proposals for increased provision of maintenance allowances for children over 14, and the raising of the school age to 15 by local education authorities who wish to do so by by-law. But it would not be good policy, even if possible, to impose upon local education authorities a requirement to provide maintenance allowances.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODCan the right hon. Gentleman state from haw many local authorities he has received applications for sanction for by-laws to vary the school age?
§ Mr. TREVELYANAt present, two. There are others.
§ Mr. COVEIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to increase the financial aid to local authorities to enable them to give maintenance grants?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am considering that question.
§ Mr. FERGUSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of the people in Britain are against raising the school age?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not everyone who can speak for "the majority of the people."