§ Mr. Cooperasked the Minister of Education what estimates he has made of the increase in the number of teachers required if the school leaving age were raised to 16 years forthwith, and of the total cost involved.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe immediate raising of the school leaving age is not a practicable proposition and I have not therefore had occasion to estimate the cost involved.
The Government are however pledged to announce a decision with regard to the raising of the school leaving age before the end of the present Parliament. Any estimates of the cost involved and the demand for additional teachers will be made in the context of this decision.