§ 43. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received resolutions from local authorities requesting that there should be a rearrangement of the holidays of State-aided schools throughout the country in order to provide, say, three weeks at or about Whitsuntide and at least three weeks during August, with a view to assisting seaside and other holiday resorts by enabling people to take their holidays earlier and avoiding the present congestion in the first two weeks in August?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI have received such resolutions from the local authorities of some seaside resorts. Under the provisions of the Education Act the fixing of school holidays is a matter which lies within the discretion of the local education authorities.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the local authorities on this matter, as it is of national importance rather than of local importance?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe most important thing is that the parents and the local authority should decide when they want holidays.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see that, if the education authorities of the schools do not fix the holidays, the parents cannot fix them? Could there be anything better than that the month of June should be used for this purpose?
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in certain parts of the country, where hop pickers and strawberry pickers are concerned, it is most important to have holidays at suitable times?