43. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Education what distance pupils in the primary schools in Radnorshire are expected to walk to school; how many prosecutions have taken place during the last 12 months against parents for not sending their children to school; and how 53W many children there are who have not yet attended school because of the lack of suitable transport arrangements.
§ Mr. PickthornThe normal walking distance for pupils in the primary schools of Radnorshire is two miles for those under eight years of age and three miles for those over eight years of age. During the last 12 months there have been 10 prosecutions against parents for not sending their children to school. There are, I understand, three children who have not yet attended school because of the lack of suitable transport arrangements.
44. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Education what were the circumstances in which Mr. A. Bowkett, Cwm Farm, Pains-castle, Radnorshire, was prosecuted twice for not sending his children to school; how many times the school attendance officer visited the parents before the first prosecution took place; and whether the Education Committee of Radnor drew the attention of the Radnor Highways Committee to the bad state of the roads on which the children are expected to travel.
§ Mr. PickthornThe local education authority have a duty to institute proceedings wherever, in their opinion, it is necessary for the purpose of enforcing school attendance. The authority's action in this case was taken in the exercise of that duty: the school attendance officer visited the home on one occasion before the first prosecution; and the education committee did not specifically draw the attention of the highways committee to the state of any roads affecting the case.