§ 13. Mr. W. BAKERasked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that the Regulations of the Board of Education prevent children when they reach the age of 14 years from attending play centres, ho will consider the possibility of extending these advantages to children up to 16 years of age?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe limitation, which the hon. Member no doubt has in mind, is a statutory limitation imposed by Section 22 of the Act, which gives power to local education authorities for elementary education to provide play centres only for children attending public elementary schools. Attendance at a public elementary school is not, however, limited to children up to the age of 14 years. As regards the hon. Member's suggestion for an extension of the facilities, my right hon. Friend would refer him to Section 86 of the Act, under which authorities for higher education are already enabled to make arrangements, with the approval of my Department, for promoting the social and physical training of older boys and girls attending educational institutions.