§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of school leavers in the Northern region remain at school after the statutory school leaving age; and what are the comparative figures for the other regions in England.
§ Dr. BoysonThe percentage of leavers from maintained schools in the Northern region in 1976–77, the latest year available, who remained at school after the statutory school leaving age* was 44.2.
Comparative figures for other regions were as follows:
percentage York and Humberside 44.5 North-West 43.1 North-West 43.1 East Midlands 43.7 West Midlands 44.6 East Anglia 43.5 South-East 54.2 South-West 47.5 * Included in these figures are those school leavers who were entitled to leave at Easter but who stayed on until the summer term.