HC Deb 06 December 1962 vol 668 cc1483-4
19. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Education what steps have been taken to see that the children of school age from the caravans on both sides of the A.2 trunk road near the Laughing Water Restaurant, about two miles outside Rochester, attend school; and what have been their results.

Sir E. Boyle

Representatives of the local education authority visited this site yesterday and found one child aged 8 not attending school. School places are available for children living here but enforcement is difficult because they move so frequently.

Mr. Dodds

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that when a representative went there yesterday most of these families had already moved on? Is he not aware that this winter hundreds of these families will be moved from place to place day by day and will consequently be unable to send their children to school because there is no place within the law? Is he not aware that all the children of the 50 families of gypsies on my camp at Cobham are going to school? These families are begging to go there, but there is not any place for them. The limit is reached. What is he going to do about it?

Sir E. Boyle

Before the hon. Gentleman gets too indignant with me, I think that he should consider the point of view of school attendance officers. Any school attendance order must name the particular school to be attended. If a child is constantly on the move, for whatever reason, it is difficult to name a suitable school. That is the difficulty I am under.

Mr. Dodds

Does not the right hon. Gentleman, who had a smile on his face, realise that what they want is a place to stay? Then the children will go to school. What will he do to get them a place to stay? He should speak to his right hon. Friends next to him with a view to getting these places. Then these children will go to school.

Sir E. Boyle

I think that there is a Question down to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on this matter today. However strongly we feel on these matters, we must have some regard to how the administrative machinery works. I am bound to say that I think that the problems of school attendance officers faced with this question must be recognised to be very real.