HC Deb 03 November 1980 vol 991 c440W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the percentage of those remaining at school beyond statutory leaving age in Scotland compares with that in other EEC countries.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The percentage of education authority secondary school pupils aged 16 who stayed on voluntarily beyond the statutory leaving age at September 1979 was 38 per cent. It is not possible to make comparisons with other EEC countries because of the different education systems and different ages at which compulsory education finishes.