§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the number of children 31W who have left school before taking their certificate of secondary education examinations for the 1980–81 school year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is not yet possible to give such an estimate. The CSE examining boards are assisting the Department by monitoring the number of entries for, and the number of candidates who sit, the 1981 examinations. The information should be available in the autumn.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the proposed changes in the Department of Health and Social Security regulations that would prevent school leavers from claiming supplementary benefit until the September after they have left school.
§ Dr. BoysonNew regulations governing supplementary benefit came into force in November 1980. School leavers' entitlement to benefit is deferred until the end of the vacation following the term in which they leave school. The Department has received 95 letters, mainly expressing concern that some pupils eligible to leave at Easter will choose to do so instead of sitting O-level and CSE examinations.