HC Deb 31 October 1929 vol 231 cc320-2
53. Mr. SMITHERS

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of additional school places and the number of additional teachers required by the raising of the school leaving age to 15?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

The increase in the number of children who will be on the registers of public elementary schools a full year after the raising of the school leaving age is estimated ta be 401,000. As I have previously explained, the number of teachers required will depend upon a variety of factors, of which the most important are the schemes of reorganisa- tion which are now in course of preparation, and I must, therefore, wait until I have the programmes of the Local Education Authorities for the years 1930–33 before giving an estimate of the number of additional teachers required.

Mr. SMITHERS

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea as to how long it will take to provide the necessary accommodation for this in-creased number of children?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I hope that the necessary accommodation will be ready by the appropriate date.

Lord EUSTACE PERCY

Is the right hon. Gentleman basing his plans on the number of extra children who will be in the schools in 1932, and does he not propose to ask the local authorities to provide accommodation for approximately 300,000 extra children over and above those who will be present in the schools in 1935 owing to the bulge in the school population?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I think the right hon. Gentleman is exaggerating the numbers.

Lord E. PERCY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the bulge limit?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I am afraid that I do not carry figures in my head so well as the right hon. Gentleman.

54. Mr. HARRIS

asked the President of the Board of Education when it is pro-posed to introduce the Bill to raise the school age?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I can add nothing to the answer which was given to the hon. Member last Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

Mr. HARRIS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some local authorities—I understand London is one—are not taking action until they have seen the terms of the Bill, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman, at any rate, have the Bill printed so that that excuse can be removed?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I will consider that matter.