24. Miss CAZALETasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is yet in a position to state if the examination by the Board of Education and other Departments into the question of school-leaving age has yet been completed?
§ 26. Mr. WHITEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he can now state the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to the school-leaving age?
§ 27. Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the President of the Board of Education whether there have been any conferences with the various religious bodies with a view to a settlement of the difficulties which are associated with the raising of the school-leaving age; and, if so, whether the Government will make public any agreements which may have been concluded between the authorities concerned?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)I am not yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the raising of the school-leaving age.
Miss CAZALETCan my right hon. Friend say whether the remarks of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to educational reform, in his speech last week, have anything to do with the question of the school-leaving age?
§ Mr. STANLEYI do not bear that in mind. Perhaps my hon. Friend will await a further statement.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs there no truth in the declaration made in the papers that the Government are going to make this one of the chief planks in their platform during the Election?
§ Mr. STANLEYThe hon. Gentleman had better wait and see.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESArising out of the statement which he has just made may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give an answer to the particular point raised in my question, namely, whether discussions have taken place with the religious bodies in relation to the problem in the denominational schools?
§ Mr. STANLEYPerhaps my hon. Friend knows that my predecessor in office has had discussions with the representatives of these bodies.
§ Mr. JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman further indicate what stage these discussions have reached?
§ Mr. STANLEYMy predecessor saw the representatives of these bodies in the summer, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. JONESMay we take it that the announcement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the raising of the school-leaving age is just so much window-dressing?
§ Mr. STANLEYNo, Sir. I do not know to what statement the hon. Gentleman refers, but any statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer means what it says.
§ Mr. WHITECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the negotiations are in such a stage as to enable him to make an announcement in the near future?
§ Mr. STANLEYI hope to make an announcement before long.