§ 20. Mr. TINKERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many children are concerned where the local authorities have put in operation the raising of the school age from 14 to 15; and how many cases are there where maintenance allowances have been made?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)Approximately 13,200 children are affected during the current school year, 1934–35. During the year ended 31st March, 1933, the latest period for which figures are yet available, (maintenance allowances were granted by one of the six local education authorities concerned to 378 children over the age of 14.
Viscountess ASTORWould the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind, as the Labour party have agreed, when they raise the school age, only to give maintenance in necessitous cases, that if the Government decide to raise the school age it will not be half as expensive as it would have been if the Labour party promised maintenance grants to all?