§ 26. Mr. MANDERasked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Education whether he has considered the resolution from the Staffordshire Education Committee approving the policy of raising the school age to 15 and other matters; how many borough and county councils have now declared themselves in favour of general legislation; and what action the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. 953 The board have received similar resolutions from 28 local education authorities or their education committees, and from four conferences of local education authorities. With regard to the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on the 16th July to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the fact that there seems to be plenty of money for subsidies of all kinds, is it not time that the children had their share?
Viscountess ASTORAs the Prime Minister and the Lord Privy Seal have made such eloquent speeches on the subject of education, will he not take them into consultation?
§ 28. Mr. KENNETH LINDSAYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will encourage local authorities in the depressed areas to adopt 15 as the school-leaving age?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMMy Noble Friend is prepared to give the fullest consideration to any proposals from local education authorities in the depressed areas as well as from those of other areas to raise the school age to 15 by by-law.