§ 61. Mr. ALBERYasked the President of the Board of Education if he can now give any further information concerning the intention of the Government with regard to the raising of the school leaving age to 15 years?
63. Mr. SIMONasked the President of the Board of Education whether the committee on the raising of the school-leaving age will report in time for the local education authorities to take the resulting decisions into consideration in framing their three-year programmes?
§ 64. Mr. SORENSENasked the President of the Board of Education the estimated cost of the raising of the elementary school-leaving age to 15, including the payment of maintenance grants?
§ 65. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to explain the broad lines of the educational policy he will he able to propose in the immediate future?
§ 67. Mr. SHAKESPEAREasked the President of the Board of Education the annual cost of extending the school-leaving age to 15?
§ 70. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able to make a definite announcement as to the policy of the Government with regard to the raising of the school-leaving age with maintenance grants; and, if not, whether he will do so before the House rises for the Summer Recess?
§ 71. Mr. COVEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able to make a statement on the raising of the school age?
§ 72. Mr. HORRABINasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to the probable date of the raising of the school-leaving age and as to the amount of the maintenance grant?
§ 73. Mr. MALCOLM MacDONALDasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that local authorities are now engaged in preparing their education programmes for the next three years, he is yet in a position 613 to state whether the Government intends to raise the school-leaving age; and, if the Government has such an intention, will he announce the date on which that Measure will take effect?
§ 74. Dr. HASTINGSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he can inform the House when a decision will be reached as to the raising of the school-leaving age?
§ 80. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the President of the Board of Education if he is now in a position to- announce when the Government; will introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age to 15 years, with maintenance allowances for the parents of such children?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANHis Majesty's Government have carefully considered the most suitable date for the raising of the school age to 15. After weighing all the circumstances, they have decided to prepare the necessary legislation to raise the school age to 15 as from 1st April, 1931. I am at once asking representatives of the local education authorities and professional bodies to meet me with a view to consultation and co-operation. Consideration is being given to the form and amount of maintenance allowances to be granted, but I can make no announcement at present.
§ Mr. COVEMay I ask whether the legislation which will be necessary to give effect to this decision will be introduced in this Session of Parliament?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI cannot answer that question.
§ Mr. ALBERYMay I ask whether it is the intention of the Government to provide for the raising of the school age to 15 years with maintenance optional or compulsory?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI have already said that I cannot yet say what the form and the amount of the maintenance grant will be.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the fact that the statement he has just made will involve not only a Bill, which will be discussed in this House, but certain immediate administrative measures which will affect not only local authorities but voluntary bodies as well, he will make 614 a statement before the Houses rises as to what administrative measures he proposes to take in such a way as the House will have an opportunity to discuss them? Secondly, will he lay before the House the Report of the Committee on which the Government have taken their present decision?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe Government have not taken their decision on the He-port of any Committee. They have made their decision themselves. With regard to the other questions, I shall not be able to lay Cabinet plans before the House rises for the Adjournment, as I shall not have completed my discussions with the local education authorities.
§ Lord E. PERCYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consult, not only with the local education authorities, but with the voluntary bodies as well, without whose co-operation this policy cannot be set up; and, secondly, are we to understand that, whereas the House was told by the Lord Privy Seal that a Committee had been appointed to inquire into the whole question, the Government have taken their decision before the Committee have reported?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI did not know that it was necessary that a Cabinet should take advice from other people as to its decisions. With regard to the other part of the Noble Lord's question, I can assure him that I am perfectly aware, as anyone must be, of all the difficulties that surround this subject, and that I shall consult all the parties that are interested in making preparations for the change.
§ Lord E. PERCYI simply want to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Lord Privy Seal was misleading the House when he said that a Committee had been appointed?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANWe have been inquiring in various ways in order to make up our minds, and we have made up our minds to our satisfaction.
§ 66. Mr. SMITHERSasked the President of the Board of Education what increase there would be in the number of children attending elementary schools by raising the school age to 16; what 615 amount of extra school buildings would be necessary; how many more teachers would be required; and what would be the total cost to the State and to local education authorities?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am afraid that the information desired by the hon. Member could not be obtained without an expenditure of time and labour which would be out of all proportion to its practical value at the present moment.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIn view of the announcement just made by the Minister for Education, may I put the question in another form by altering the figure "16" to "15"?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThat is not the question on the Paper.
§ 75. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Education how many local education authorities exercising elementary education powers there are in Engand and Wales; and how many make maintenance grants to pupils in attendance at public elementary schools, stating separately, if possible, the number who confine such maintenance grants to children exempt from further compulsory attendance at school?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANOf the 317 Local Education Authorities in England and Wales which exercise elementary education powers, 33 made maintenance grants to pupils in attendance at public elementary schools during the year 1927–28. Of these authorities 29 confined the grants to children exempt from further compulsory attendance at school.