§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the children of Commonwealth citizens or aliens under 18 years of age who are visiting this country without their parents may be admitted to a local education authority school;
(2) when a circular was last issued by her Department advising local authorities as to the rules by which children of school age and up to 18 years of age who are not citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and who have entered the Commonwealth travel area as visitors may be put on the register of a local education authority school as a pupil; and if she will identify the circular.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeNo circular on this subject has been issued by the Department. The admission of pupils to maintained schools is a matter for the local education authority and the228W managers or governors of schools. The decision whether to accept responsibility for the education of any individual child must depend on all the circumstances of the particular case. But my right hon. Friend's view, generally speaking, is that local education authorities who wish to do so would be justified in refusing to provide education for children whose stay in this country was restricted to a period not exceeding six months; that authorities would be under an obligation to provide education for those whose stay exceeded 12 months; and that cases falling between these two limits could properly be dealt with on their merits.