§ 18. Mr. WHITEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education to what extent children who would normally have left school at Christmas on attaining the age of 14 have remained at school?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI regret that the board's statistics are not compiled in a form which would enable me to answer this question.
§ Mr. WHITEIn the absence of definite figures, could my hon. Friend say whether the tendency for children to remain at school beyond the age of 14 is increasing?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI must have notice of that question.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISWill the hon. Gentleman consider the question of instructing local authorities to send out a circular to the parents of children who reach the school-leaving age pointing out the advantage of allowing them to continue their education and the facilities which are available?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI think it is a fairly common practice for local authorities to do so.
Viscountess ASTORCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House the difference made to juvenile unemployment when local authorities have raised the school-leaving age?
§ 20. Sir FRANK SANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the school-leaving age in the State schools of Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMAttendance at school is compulsory until 13 in France, until 14 in Germany, Belgium Sweden and Denmark, and until 15 in Norway.