§ 14. Mr. TREVELYANasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the statement on page 3 of Circular 1397 that local authorities may expect to have suitable accommodation provided by 1923 for all pupils between 11 and 15, he has any statement to make as to the raising of the compulsory school age to 15 in preparation for that date?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)I am afraid I do not understand the right hon. Member's question. If he will refer again to the statement on page 3 of Circular 1397 he will see that it reads as follows:
If provision is made on this basis" (i.e., for the number of children who will be attending school in 1933 on the basis of the present law), "Authorities may reasonably expect to find that, as the senior school 1737 population returns to normal proportions in the years succeeding 1933, they will already have provided, or can with comparatively little additional work provide, suitable accommodation not merely for any increase in voluntary attendance after 14 + but also for all pupils between 11 and 15.
§ Mr. TREVELYANIn that case, will the Noble Lord raise the school age for the period after 1933?
§ Lord E. PERCYIf the right hon. Gentleman wants an answer, perhaps he will put down a question.