§ Mr. GOULDasked the President of the Board of Education the estimated saving which would result from the adoption of a means test if applied to the maintenance grants under the proposed raising of the school-leaving age from 14 to 15, and the estimated cost of carrying the means test into operation?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANIn answer to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 13th February, to the hon. Member for North Lanark (Miss Lee), of which I am sending him a copy. In answer to the second part, I am advised that the adoption of a means test would not involve any substantial addition to the administrative expenses of the local authorities.
§ Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the President of the Board of Education if he will consider the advisability of convening a national conference, representative of education authorities, the universities, 2132W training colleges, and the teaching profession, to consider a policy of co-operation to meet the need for additional teachers arising from the proposal to raise the school-leaving age?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI fully realise the importance of securing the co-operation of the various bodies mentioned in regard to the measures to be taken for increasing the supply of teachers, and I have every reason to believe that they are willing to give me such co-operation, but I doubt whether a national conference would be the best means of achieving this result.
Duchess of ATHOLLasked the President of the Board of Educaticn the names of any local education authorities who have definitely stated that they expect to be able to carry through the necessary reorganisation and other arrangements in time to provide for the full number of additional children who will be retained in the schools after 1st April, 1931, assuming that the school-leaving age is raised at that date; the names of those authorities whose programmes indicate that the schemes of reorganisation proposed are likely to become effective in time; the names of those authorities whose programmes do not justify this belief; and the names of those authorities who have definitely stated that they cannot carry through the necessary reorganisation and other arrangements in time?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANA detailed examination is being made of the programmes submitted by local education authorities, and when the investigations have proceeded further I shall be glad to provide the Noble Lady with the information for which she asks, so far as I am able.