§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of pupils in Northern Ireland due to leave school at the end of the summer term who will not now be doing so because of the raising of the school-leaving age.
§ Mr. ChannonAt present there are two school-leaving dates, at the end of the Easter and Summer terms. The raising of school-leaving age to 16 years in the school year 1972–73 will not affect school population until the school year 1973 –74. Of the total age group of something under 28,000 pupils, many of whom already continue voluntarily at school beyond the upper age limit of compulsory education, it is estimated that the extra number of pupils in that year will be of the order of 11,000.