38. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received any communications from the Association of Education Committees stating that certain education authorities find it impossible to find the additional accommodation necessary by 1st April, 1931, if the school age is raised on that date; and what action he proposes to take in such cases?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Charles Trevelyan)The Association have not sent me any such communication, and in any case, as I have already informed the hon. Member, the fact that a few authorities may not have completed their arrangements in time does not appear to me to be a sufficient reason for postponing the date proposed for the raising of the school-leaving age.
§ Mr. HARRISWould not the best remedy be to pass this Bill into an Act of Parliament, which would remove all excuse for avoiding those responsibilities?
§ 42. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received from the Haxey Parish Council a resolution protesting against the proposed raising of the school age; and whether he has received any other similar resolutions from parish councils in rural areas?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKIs it not true that there is a growing dissatisfaction in the rural areas about the raising of the school age?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI receive about 30 resolutions in favour to one against.
§ Mr. SKELTONIs it not the case that under the present regime it is extremely improbable that the school age will be raised and that this, like other things, will not be done?
§ 61. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education if there are any local authorities that are not making the necessary preparations in anticipation of the raising of the school age in 1931; if so, how many; and which are the principal authorities that are failing in this respect?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANTwo authorities, Wolverhampton and the Isle of Ely, have informed me that they do not propose to proceed with their preparations for the raising of the school leaving age until the Education (School Attendance) Bill becomes law, and I have reason to think that the failure of some other authorities to submit proposals may be due to the same reason.