§ Mr. GRUNDYasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that juvenile unemployment is becoming a serious problem in London, Liverpool, and other centres; whether any special steps are being taken to deal with this phase of the unemployment question; whether he is aware that, after the Armistice, educational centres of 676W emergency schools were provided in centres where unemployment amongst juveniles had reached serious proportions: that the attendance of juveniles at these centres or schools was secured by the fact that the out-of-work donation was paid there; and whether he will consider the advisability of assisting and encouraging local authorities to form these emergency schools now and provide funds for the same, and provide scholarships for maintenance grants for children in order to encourage their attendance at these schools?
Mr. H. LEWISI am aware that there has been a considerable increase of juvenile unemployment in some localities. I do not think that educational funds could properly be burdened with the cost of payments to unemployed juveniles designed merely to induce them to attend classes regularly, and I doubt whether, in the absence of special financial incentives to regular attendance, there is much prospect that educational centres for unemployed young persons could be conducted with success. I have, however, directed that the position shall be kept under review.