§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Board of Education how many children between the ages of 14 and 15 left the elementary day schools at the leaving period, and how many were assisted or advised to take sutuations by joint industrial committees; and has any record been kept as to the number who entered situations, employment in which is expected to lead on to permanent employment?
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§ Lord E. PERCYin the year ended the 31st March, 1923, the number of public elementary school leavers between the ages of 14 and 15 was 470,877. There are no statistics in my possession or in that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour showing the proportion of these leavers who received the information and advice provided by juvenile employment sub-committee of local education authorities, or juvenile advisory committees of the Ministry of Labour. In London, however, all children are advised at school conferences in which the secretaries of the local juvenile advisory committees take an active part, whilst in other areas similar arrangements result in a high proportion of these children receiving advice from committees on leaving school. Such records as are kept locally of the prospects of employment in the situations in which young persons are placed are not at present susceptible of tabulation, but I have already sent the hon. Member certain relevant figures relating to two particular areas, and the question whether it is practicable to obtain statistics which would enable the placings to be classified in the manner suggested is engaging the attention of my right hon. Friend and myself.