35. Miss CAZALETasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is yet in a position to state when the 2473 examination by the Board of Education and other Departments into the question of school-leaving age is likely to be completed?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)The detailed examination into the question of school-leaving age is still continuing, and I am afraid I am not in a position to say when it will be completed.
Miss CAZALETIn view of the fact that it is now nearly six months since the examination started, does not my right hon. Friend think that everything that can be known on this subject must be known by now?
§ Mr. STANLEYI am afraid I am not so confident that everything that can be known about anything ever is known.
§ Sir P. HARRISWill the right hon. Gentleman consult his Noble Friend the Minister without Portfolio about the Bill which he himself introduced two years ago dealing with this subject; and also the Bill introduced by the Member for South-West Bethnal Green, which his Noble Friend supported when it was presented to the House for Second Reading? Would not that be a possible alternative which might help the right hon. Gentleman in making up his mind?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Parliamentary record and see what happened to that Bill when it was introduced?
§ Mrs. COPELANDIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion that everything that it is possible to know about this subject may not yet be known, may I ask him if he will make inquiries as to whether it is not a fact that the children in the Potteries, should they leave school at the age of 15, cannot obtain that dexterity in freehand drawing which is necessary for them, and whether it will be possible for them to have special tuition in drawing if they remain on at school?