HC Deb 21 November 1973 vol 864 cc1306-7
2. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider as a matter of urgency bringing forward the proposed review of the results of raising the school leaving age in Scotland.

Mr. Monro

My right hon. Friend has no plans to review the raising of the school leaving age, though he has indicated his readiness to review the system of fixed school leaving dates in a year or so.

Mr. Steel

Does the Minister accept the need to review this matter now? Is he aware that a headmaster told me of a visit he made last week to a class of 16-year-olds where he found 15 playing cards and dominoes and 14 out of the 15 had jobs to go to? At a time when we are short of teachers and industry is crying out for labour, is it sensible to keep young people on at school beyond their sixteenth birthday?

Mr. Monro

It is essential to wait a year or so to see what effect the raising of the school leaving age has on leaving dates. I am sorry that any headmaster should find that happening in his school.

Mr. Lawson

In view of the difficulties in many schools, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Government have a real responsibility to ensure that local education authorities can either cope with those difficulties or make arrangements so that they can properly cope with what is being done?

Mr. Monro

My Department keeps a very close watch on developments in Scotland. I hope the hon. Gentleman will accept that the present difficulties are not universal. Far from it. Far fewer than the total number of authorities involved have difficulties at the present time.

Mr. Ross

Surely we are entitled to some information from the Government on this matter. We are getting reports of a serious shortage of teachers. The result may show very much earlier retirement by teachers from whom another couple of years' teaching would be valuable at this time. There are also reports of shortage of accommodation. The pledge about roofs over their heads with respect to the raising of the school leaving age has not been carried out. Could we have some information about this matter soon?

Mr. Monro

Certainly. I hope to have the latest figures relating to the intake of new teachers for secondary education and the increase in the numbers of pupils because of the raising of the school leaving age at the end of this week and shall present them next week.

The accommodation situation may be exaggerated. There are difficulties, and certain places have been held back because of building problems this year. However, I am concerned that we should press on as fast as we can.