§ 34. Mr. MAXTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether attendance at classes in shorthand and typewriting in commercial colleges by children of school age is accepted by his Department as efficient education within the meaning of the Scottish Education Acts; and, if so, will he state the number of pupils in Scotland who are at present receiving this type of instruction?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEFrom inquiries I have made I understand that a course embracing shorthand and typewriting only would not be accepted by the education authorities in Scotland as efficient education for a child of school age. Other essential subjects are required in the small number of cases which arise. It is for the education authority and not for the Department to decide whether a parent is providing efficient education for his child, and any appeal from that decision is to the Sheriff.
§ Mr. MAXTONCannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer the latter part of the question as to the number of pupils?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI have no statistics available, and I have no reason to believe that there are any attending colleges in which only these two subjects are taught.