§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Education what percentage of children leaving elementary schools obtain employment within a twelvemonth; and what steps are taken to place elementary school pupils in direct touch with employers prior to leaving school?
§ Mr. LAWSONThe great majority of children who leave elementary schools obtain employment within a few months. No precise and up-to-date information as to the percentage who obtain employment within a twelvemonth, is at present available, but a special inquiry is being made this month which will include an investigation into this subject. At a large number of schools arrangements are made by the local committees for juvenile employment to give advice to children before they leave school as to their careers. In certain cases children are at that time given introductions to prospective employers, but in the majority of eases the introduction is given at the juvenile employment bureaux or Employment Exchanges where the children register immediately after leaving school. The system is described in detail in the report on the Work of Local Committees for Juvenile Employment during the year 1929, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.