HC Deb 26 June 1924 vol 175 cc571-2
35. Mr. AYLES

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the case of local education authorities desirous of raising the school-leaving age to 15 years, he will consider sympathetically the grant of maintenance allowances for children over 14 years of age in those cases where the family income is below a reasonable standard to be fixed by the local education authority in consultation with the Board of Education?

Mr. TREVELYAN

I should certainly view with sympathy proposals for increased provision of maintenance allowances for children over 14, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule VII of the Code, which are designed to secure that the children receiving them shall derive educational advantage from the prolongation of their school life.

Major COLFOX

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the reason for not starting these maintenance allowances until the age of 14? Why should they not start from birth?

Mr. TREVELYAN

That is a question of policy which we can discuss on the Estimates.