§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if the age of statutory school attendance were altered from 5 to 16 years to 4 to 15 years, what would be the saving to the education budget;
(2) if, as part of the national debate on education, she will consider an alteration in the school leaving age, and in particular altering the statutory school years from 5 to 16 years to 4 to 15 years.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend does not intend to propose any change in the limits of compulsory school age. She is advised that the change suggested by the hon. Member would be unlikely to produce financial savings. In order to establish the financial position 163W with accuracy an extensive analysis would be necessary: in the light of Government policy the cost of such an analysis could not be justified.