§ 33. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will refuse applications made to him by education authorities for him to take steps to relieve them of their obligation to raise the school-leaving age to 16 years.
Mr. Edward TaylorThe Secretary of State has no power under existing legislation to approve any such applications.
§ Mr. RankinHas the hon. Genleman forgotten that in 1963 the then Conservative Government decided to raise the school-leaving age in Scotland to 16? Now that the Conservatives are back in power, when is that promise likely to be honoured? Now that the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues have a chance to honour it, what do they intend to do? Will he resist, when he starts doing something about it, any appeals that may be made by local authorities to get out of accepting the Government's will in this 60 matter? May we be assured that such authorities will be told that they must follow Government policy?
Mr. TaylorI indicated at a recent meeting in Glasgow that it was the Government's present intention to go ahead with arrangements for raising the school-leaving age by the due date. It is not fair, therefore, for hon. Gentlemen opposite to make accusations on this question of the school-leaving age when, as they know from previous Answers, that it is anticipated that there will be a shortage of more than 3,000 secondary school teachers by the planned date for raising the school-leaving age.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order. I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter of the school-leaving age on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.