Mr. E. HARVEYasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the large and increasing amount of juvenile unemployment, the Government will take steps to empower local education authorities to raise the ago of compulsory school attendance in respect of children who have not obtained offers of employment, and at the same time make provision for school maintenance bursaries for children over 14 years of age?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am anxious to receive proposals from local education authorities for the raising of the school age to fifteen, but legislation would be required to enable me to sanction a proposal in the form stated by the hon. Member in the first part of his question I am fully prepared to consider with sympathy proposals for increased provision of maintenance allowances for children over 14 in accordance with the conditions stated in Schedule VII of the Code.
§ Mr. G. WHITEasked the President of the Board of Education if he will consider the advisability of instituting an immediate inquiry in industrial areas into the school accommodation now available and the additions which might be required if the school-leaving age were raised to 15?
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§ Mr. TREVELYANA general inquiry, such as the hon. Member suggests, would involve too much time and labour; but where any local education authority informs me that it is considering raising the school age, the Board will require to be satisfied that the necessary accommodation will be available if the bye-law becomes operative.