§ Mr. E. SIMONasked the President of the Board of Education what percentage of children between the ages of 14 and 16 in London and Birmingham are actually attending continuation schools; and whether he proposes to take steps to put the continuation school system effectively into force in these towns and in the country as a whole?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI assume that this question refers to day, as distinguished from evening, continuation schools. Of the total number of London boys and girls between 14 and 16 years of age, it is estimated that about three per cent. were in attendance at voluntary day continuation schools in the week beginning on the 28th January, 1924. The corresponding percentage for Birmingham on the 1st January was approximately the same. I do not propose, in present circumstances, to require local education authorities to undertake the provision of day continuation schools on a basis of obligatory attendance.