§ 24. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education the total number of places in all secondary schools expected to be available at the beginning of the next school year in London, Birmingham, 1379 Essex, and the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme, respectively; and what estimate has been made in each case of the number and proportion of 15-year-olds who are likely to stay on at school.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydAs the Answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate the information I have available in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SwinglerHas the right hon. Gentleman taken note of the figures which he gave me a fortnight ago, showing that an increasing proportion of 15year-olds are staying on at school and that the percentage has risen in recent years from 25 to 32 per cent.? Is he aware that, although we know that one of the reasons for that is the lack of juvenile employment, we welcome the fact and we hope that local authorities are making full allowance for a continuance of this development?
§ Mr. LloydYes, Sir, and we also are doing so in our reactions to the proposals of the local authorities.
§ Following is the information:
| THE ESTIMATED NUMBERS AND PROPORTIONS OF 15-YEAR-OLD PUPILS IN MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN JANUARY, I960, ARE AS FOLLOWS: | ||
| — | Numbers | As percentage of 13-year olds in 1958 |
| England and Wales | 209,500 | 33.6 |
| London | 18,000 | 47.0 |
| Birmingham | 4,900 | 26.5 |
| Essex | 9,000 | 36.0 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 530 | 37.0 |
§ 25. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education to what extent the number and proportion of children who have passed their 15th birthdays and are staying on at school this year have exceeded the expectations and estimates of the education authorities; and what special steps he is taking about the provision of additional places in the secondary schools in the coming school year.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThis information will not be available until later this year, but I am sure that there will be enough places in secondary schools next year.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill the right hon. Gentleman carry out some sort of survey in view of the fact that, especially owing to the employment position in the last twelve months, it is likely that more parents will decide to keep their children at school for a longer period because they have more difficulty in getting jobs when they leave? Will the right hon. Gentleman take some special action to see that local education authorities get busy to ensure that children have full value for the extra period during which they will stay at school?
§ Mr. LloydThere is a very great increase in the rate of building of secondary schools. The rate has doubled in the last three years.
§ Mr. M. StewartWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that there will be enough places in secondary schools this year, may I take it that he does not mean that there will be enough to get into secondary schools all children of secondary school age, including those now in all-age schools?
§ Mr. LloydAll those who, so to speak, will be released into secondary schools as a result of reorganisation during the period.
§ Mr. StewartHow can we be sure of that unless estimates have been made of the matter raised in my hon. Friend's Question?
§ Mr. LloydWe know the rate at which staying on at school is increasing year by year and, having made a generous allowance with regard to that, we can see as a result of the building programme that there will be ample to cover that number, however large it could be in practice.
§ Mr. EdeThe right hon. Gentleman knows that in this matter he has the full support of all parties in the House, but will he make certain that where parents allow their children to stay at school well beyond the age for compulsory attendance, worth-while education and equipment will he available for them?
§ Mr. LloydCertainly, Sir, that is our endeavour, and it is one of the reasons for the large increase in the teacher training colleges.