§ 71. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of children between 14 and 15 years in rural areas in Lanarkshire who are receiving post qualifying education and the distance of the advanced central school from each elementary school; what provision is made, or financial help given, to pupils attending such schools from a distance; and what method is adopted by the education authority, verbal or in writing, to inform parents of the existing facilities in their respective years?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEAs regards the first part of the question, I am informed by the Lanarkshire Education Authority that the only information available is in respect of those for whom travelling faciilties have been provided by the authority. The number of such children is 428, and the distance involved varies from two to 20 miles. The financial help given in these cases is the provision of travelling facilities or boarding allowances. As to the last part of the question the education authority issue a circular letter to the parents of pupils who are about to be presented at the qualifying examination. This circular explains the nature of the post-primary courses which are available, and parents are advised to consult the headmaster of the primary school on any point on which 256 they are in doubt as to the facilities for further education.
§ Mr. RADFORDCan my hon. and gallant Friend say how many hours work these children have to do after they have travelled so far as 20 miles?
§ 72. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants for maintenance are given to children attending secondary schools in Lanarkshire; how many children from their own area are attending the schools of other authorities; the number of such children for whom a contribution is paid to the authority providing the secondary education for the children; and the distances travelled by pupils having to leave their own areas for advanced education?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI am informed by the Lanarkshire Education Authority that maintenance grants of £3 to £6 per annum are given by the authority to pupils in the fourth, fifth and sixth years of the secondary course. As to the second part of the question, no statistics are available. As to the third and fourth parts, the number of pupils attending the schools of other authorities in respect of whom a contribution is paid under section 10 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, is 162, and the distance to be travelled in these cases ranges up to five miles.
§ Mr. HARDIEHas the attention of the Department been called to cases like that of a child, say, whose home has been in the Glasgow area but has been shifted 100 yards into Lanarkshire, and who then, instead of being able to attend a secondary school almost next, door, has to travel to Coatbridge, 13 miles away, at a cost of 3s. 6d? Could not expense be saved by adopting some means of getting that child into a nearer school?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI shall be happy to consider soy concrete cases which the hon. Member puts to me.
§ Mr. HARDIEI will give them to you.