§ 17. Mr. SOMERVILLE (for Mr. CAMPBELL)asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is in a position to make a statement as to the future policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the raising of the school-leaving age?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe policy of His Majesty's Government remains the same as that which they have consistently followed since they assumed office. They made it clear, in various statements and answers to questions during the first Session of the present Parliament, that they would consider, on its merits, any proposal made by a Local Education Authority to raise the school-leaving age by local by-law under the powers conferred upon Authorities by the Education Act, but that they were not prepared, in existing circumstances, to impose on the country the additional financial burdens which would be entailed by a general raising of the age. His Majesty's Government have seen no reason to depart from the policy thus defined, especially since both the Consultative Committee of the Board and the Association of Education Committees have recently expressed the opinion that Local Authorities cannot, in any case, be ready to provide generally for the proper education of children between 14 552 and 15 before the year 1932 or 1933. The Consultative Committee has, indeed, recommended that anticipatory legislation raising the school-leaving age as from September, 1932, should be passed immediately, but as my hon. Friend knows, I have already stated, both in this House and elsewhere, that His Majesty's Government are unable to accept this recommendation.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYHave any local authorities applied?
§ Lord E. PERCYYes, Carnarvon and East Suffolk did apply, and their by-laws were approved at the end of 1924. Plymouth and Cornwall have now applied.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the Board of Education anxious to get schemes prepared by local authorities in order to see what their ideas are? Would they favour schemes being worked out as to cost and whether buildings are available?
§ Lord E. PERCYYes, I have suggested to the local authorities that in view of the Consultative Committee's report, they should work out some survey of the cost, and local authorities are surveying their probable needs in that direction.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if there is a change in the Board of Education, there will be a change of policy?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. THORNEThere will be.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs the President of the Board of Education aware that the raising of the school-leaving age would have an enormous effect upon unemployment?
§ Lord E. PERCYNo, Sir. I am not aware of that, and I think that statement is very largely fallacious. I think, if the hon. Member will examine the actual conditions of any particular industry, he will find that in the case of the withdrawal of children between the ages of 14 and 15 the effect on the total employment in the industry at best would be very indirect, but in any case from the educational point of view the question is whether we should compel children to attend school admittedly before we are prepared to give them a proper education.