§ Mr. W. R. Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what progress has been made with the scheme for staggering school holidays with the object of facilitating the holidays with pay movement; what is the general opinion of local authorities on this matter; and whether there is any likelihood of staggered holidays being enforced in schools throughout the country in 1940?
Mr. LindsayI regret that I have no information as to the progress which has been made in the direction of adjusting school holidays to fit in with industrial holidays with pay. As my hon. Friend is aware such adjustment is a matter for consideration by local education authorities in the light of the circumstances of their areas, and I have reason to believe that generally speaking they are prepared to co-operate where local circumstances require it. As regards the last part of the question, any general measure of enforcement would, in my view, be inappropriate, and not in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee on Holidays with Pay.