§ 15. Colonel DAYasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the inconvenience likely to be experienced during the August school holidays owing to the overcrowding of holiday resorts and restricted rail services; and, with a view to overcoming such inconvenience, will he consider the advisability of suggesting to education authorities the need for children taking their holidays in relays?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Duchess of Atholl)The matter has on more than one occasion been brought to the notice of my Noble Friend's Department. Under the provisions of the Act the fixing of school holidays is a matter which lies within the discretion of local authorities, and, apart from questions of family convenience, the dates of public examinations are a material circumstance which has to 1320 be taken into account. I understand that the question of the incidence of holidays has recently been considered by the Association of Education Committees.