26. Viscountess ASTORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)It is not part of the Government's policy to introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age, but the Noble Lady will find the policy of the Government in regard to juveniles above the existing school-leaving age in the Unemployment Insurance Bill circulated to-day.
Viscountess ASTORMay I say how grateful some of us are to the Government for what they are doing; but may I at the same time ask whether it would not be a better policy for the Government to raise the school-leaving age, because they know in their hearts that it will have to be raised in the next two or three years? Would it not be better to do it now?