§ Mr. MERRIMANasked the President of the Board of Education how many boys and girls, respectively, in the Manchester area who have passed the seven standards but are not yet 14 years of age will be passed into standard ex-VII at the end of the current term; whether such boys and girls will be required to attend school, and what further education, if any, they will be given; whether in the event of full-time employment being offered they can be immediately released to take up such employment; and whether, in the case of such boys, as they are not permitted to attend evening classes on the ground of their age, he will see whether provision can be made for their receiving similar tuition in day schools?
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Duchess of ATHOLLMy right hon. Friend regrets that he does not possess the information asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the second and third parts, I would remind my hon. Friend that the question of school attendance and exemption therefrom is governed by statutory provisions under Sections 42–45 and Section 138 of the Act of 1921. As regards the last part of the question, it is not the case that children are debarred from admission to evening classes on the ground of age, but if the local authority desires to make provision for part-time day continuation classes for employed juveniles my right hon. Friend will consider any proposals that may be made to him.