HC Deb 26 June 1940 vol 362 cc436-7
21. Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Education how many boys and girls left the elementary schools for the years ended March, 1938, 1939 and 1940?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede)

Information relating to the year ended 31st March, 1938, was given in reply to the hon. Member's Question of 6th March, 1939, a copy of which I am sending him. Figures for 1939 have not been tabulated owing to the need for eliminating during war-time nonessential statistical work, and those for 1940 have not been collected, since, owing to the abnormal conditions under which many schools have been working, they would not have been reliable or have provided a useful basis of comparison with figures for previous years.

Mr. Thorne

I accept my hon. Friend's explanation.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Although the figures are in abeyance for the time being, can we get them later on, when conditions are normal?

Mr. Ede

I do not think it will ever be possible for the year ended 31st March, 1940, because of the conditions that were prevailing with regard to evacuation and reception and the closure of schools at that time.