57. Dr. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education if his estimate of £5,500,000 as the additional cost for the raising of the school age is for the 597 year 1931–32 alone; if so, what is the estimated increased cost for the three succeeding years; and upon what basis has the estimate been formed?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe estimate does not relate to the year 1931–2. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the financial memorandum attached to the Education (School Attendance) Bill.
§ 58. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that a percentage of children leave school at the age of 14 unable to read or write; and if some standard will be required before children of that age are allowed or forced to spend another year at school?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANInability to read and write does not seem to me to afford any good ground for early exemption from school attendance. Such inability frequently arises from causes such as ill health or irregularity of attendance, which make continued education specially desirable. I may remind the hon. Member that mentally defective children are already required by law to remain at school until the age of 16.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that once a child reaches the age of 14 and is unable to read or "rite, for any reason except mental deficiency, it is almost impossible to teach him because he is unwilling to go into the lower class where reading and writing are taught?
§ Mr. BEAUMONTWill the right hon. Gentleman take special steps to afford special education to those children who find particular difficulty in learning to read and write?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI think the local authorities, more and more, give special attention to children under these conditions.