§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that children entering the elementary schools or when seeking employment can, by filling up a prescribed form, obtain a birth certificate for the sum of 6d.; that in some districts this rule is also applied to children entering county or secondary schools, whilst in others the full fee is charged; and will he take steps to enforce this rule in all cases and have it made uniform?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have been asked to reply. The special rate of 6d. for the issue of a birth certificate in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers is applied by Section 135 of the Education Act, 1921, to cases where the age is required to be proved for the purposes58W of the provisions of the Act relating to elementary education, or for any purpose connected with the elementary education or employment in labour of the child or young person. I am advised that this provision does not extend to purposes relating to or connected with education which is not elementary; and I have no power to extend it. But I am not prepared to express any opinion with regard to any particular cases of doubt which may have arisen.