HC Deb 09 May 1930 vol 238 cc1330-1W
Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will instruct the Board of Special Inquiries and Reports to prepare and publish a memorandum similar to that of 1913 on the law of compulsory attendance at school and its administration in Norway, the cantons of Switzerland, and those states of the United States of America in which children are required to attend school after the age of 14?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

A considerable amount of information as to the law in the various countries is already in the possession of my Department, and I shall be glad to make it available to the Noble Lady if she should so desire. I am afraid, however, that the considerations referred to in the Prefatory Note to the 1913 Memorandum still apply, and that it would be no more practicable now that it was at the date at which the previous Memorandum was prepared to obtain a sufficient amount of reliable information as to the actual working of the laws in the different countries.

Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the President of the Board of Education, if he will state the compulsory age for entering school in those countries of Europe and those states of the United States of America in which children are required to attend school beyond the age of 14, and in other leading European countries?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

The age for the commencement of compulsory school attendance is as follows:

Where attendance is compulsory beyond the age of 14:—

Norway 7
Switzerland 6 or 7
(Varying in different cantons.)
United States of America 6, 7 or 8
(Varying in different states.)
Other European countries:
Austria 6
France 6
Germany 6
Italy 6
Denmark 7
Holland 7
Poland 7