§ 18. Sir F. SANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the numbers of families who take their annual holiday in August on account of the school holidays and the consequent congestion and high cost of accommodation at seaside resorts during that month, he will consider closing all elementary schools during July in order to relieve the position and also with a view to giving to children under 14 years of age the benefit of a holiday during a month with longer hours of daylight?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe fixing of school holidays is a matter which lies within the discretion of the local education authorities. It is already the practice of a number of authorities to adjust the school holidays to local needs.
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes not the operation of school holidays by local authorities depend on the insistence of the Department that schools shall have a certain number of openings in the year; and will the hon. Member consider now whether the number of openings required should not be substantially reduced?