§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when it will be possible to make an approximate estimate of the savings resulting from the reduction of the school leaving age.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIt is very difficult to arrive at such an estimate, especially when school rolls will be falling. To make even an approximate estimate of savings on education expenditure would require detailed study of individual schools and local authorities, involving considerable work. My right hon. Friend does not intend to reduce the school leaving age and, in these circumstances, the effort involved in producing an estimate would not be warranted.