§ 45. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause calculations to be made as to the effect on the unemployment problem of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 and the granting of adequate old age pensions to all persons of 65 years and over; and will he state to this House the effect of such calculations?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Chamberlain)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply and to say that he is advised that no reliable calculations can be made as to the net effect on the unemployment problem of raising the school-leaving age and granting increased pensions to all persons of 65 years of age.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDAre the Government aware that the number of children at school between the ages of 14 and 15 and the number of old people still in industry at 65 years of age and over, are together almost exactly equal to the number of unemployed, and that the cost of giving a maintenance grant for the children and an old age pension to the older workers would not be greater than the cost of paying unemployment benefit as at present to the unemployed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of argument in Debate.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIs it not a fact that in the colliery industry there are at least 40,000 boys between the ages of 14 and 15 years.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information and not asking for it.