§ 12. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory situation in Staffordshire arising out of the difference between industrial annual holidays and those of schools, whereby there has been a 40 per cent. absenteeism from school of children whose parents avail themselves of the industrial holiday in early July; and what steps he has taken to implement the Resolution of the House of 12th February, 1960.
§ The Minister of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)I understand from the Staffordshire Local Education Authority that this is at present a serious problem only in the town of Stafford, where the one school in which absences rose to 40 per cent. is situated. The authority is continuing to study the local aspects of this problem. The point raised in the last part of the Question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.