HC Deb 24 July 1947 vol 440 cc164-5W
70. Miss Lee

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the hardship to working-class parents with children over school-leaving age in approved schools of having to contribute to the maintenance of those children; and if he will consider making financial responsibility terminate at the school-leaving age.

Mr. Ede

This is not a matter within my discretion. The provisions enacted by Parliament in the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, make no distinction between children who are of school age and children who are over that age. They lay a duty on the parent to contribute and give the court discretion to fix a weekly sum "having regard to the parents' means."