§ 57. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the parents of boys sent to an approved school, have, in addition to losing the lad's weekly wages, been compelled to contribute 10s. toward his maintenance; that this is putting a penalty upon the parents; and if he will take steps to remit the charges in such circumstances.
§ Mr. EdeThe Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, lays a duty on the parent to contribute and gives the court discretion to fix a weekly sum "having regard to the parents' means." The amount so ordered may be varied by a subsequent court order. I have and freely exercise power to remit payments when I am satisfied that there are grounds of hardship to justify such remission. Provision is made in the Children Bill, now before Parliament, under which a parent's liability to contribute will cease when his child reaches the age of sixteen.
§ 61. Mr. K. Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are now in approved 70W schools; how many are in those run by local education authorities; and how many in those run by voluntary societies.
§ Mr. EdeOn 29th May there were 9,407 children and young persons in approved schools, of whom 2,228 were in schools maintained by local education authorities and 7,179 in schools maintained by voluntary societies.