§ 37. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Postmaster-General if he will provide a list of the Scottish schools which have been approached to exempt children from attendance to work in local post offices in December; how many children have been asked to volunteer; and if he is satisfied that there is no alternative local labour in each case.
§ Miss PikeEight schools have been asked to release a total of 113 children. I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am satisfied that there is insufficient local labour in each case.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the hon. Lady aware that yesterday the Secretary of State for Scotland informed the House that amongst the areas that would be asked to take children out of the schools for this work were Renfrowshire, Lanarkshire and Dunbartolshire, in all of which there is very heavy unemployment? Is it not quite indefensible that the unemployed in those areas should be deprived of the 1259 opportunity of some Christmas work, and that the education of these children should be sacrificed?
§ Miss PikeI can assure the hon. Gentleman that school children are used only as a last resort when we are quite unable to get other labour from the local employment exchanges. We have to have the permission of the education authorities and, of course, that of the school and of the parents as well, and there will be less than 200 children used this year.
§ Following are the details:
| Head Post Office Areas | Schools | Numbers needed |
| Alloa | Alloa Academy | 20 |
| Dollar Academy | ||
| Glasgow | Eastwood Secondary | 23 |
| Giffnock | ||
| Coatbridge Secondary | ||
| Coatbridge | ||
| Inverness | Inverness Royal Academy | 60 |
| Inverness High School | ||
| Stirling | High School | Possibly up to 10 |
| St. Modans School | ||
| Alloa Academy |