asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to raise the school-leaving age?

My Noble Friend has nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on the 16th of July last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

In view of the figures given earlier in the day by the Minister of Labour, that there are about 126,000 children between 14 and 18 years of age out of work, will the hon. Gentleman ask his Noble Friend to reconsider this matter?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour said that the absorption rate was very satisfactory, and, as regards areas where unemployment is heavy, the hon. Member has to bear in mind certain provisions of the recent Unemployment Act.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider it satisfactory when 126,000 children are considered to be permanently out of work?

Is it not the case that the bulk of those children have been out of work only a few days?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the names of the local authorities that have submitted schemes for the raising of the school-leaving age to 15, giving the number of schemes sanctioned by his Department and where situated?

Prior to 1931 five local education authorities, Caernarvonshire, East Suffolk, Plymouth, Cornwall and Bath, had, with the sanction of the Board of Education, raised the school-leaving age in their areas by byelaw to 15 years. Since that date similar byelaws have been sanctioned for Chesterfield, Lowestoft and Cheltenham; and, with the Board's concurrence, the authorities of Gloucester City and of Penzance have published their intention to make such a byelaw. Definite proposals for similar byelaws have been received by the Board from the authorities of Barrow-in-Furness, Winchester and Denbighshire. There is also a proposal from Barnsley to raise the age to 14½ instead of 15. These proposals are still under consideration. Proposals were also made by the authorities of Burnley and Huddersfield, but were refused.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the reasons why those last two are being refused?

Partly because the education arrangements proposed were not satisfactory, and partly because the areas are not sufficiently self-contained to prevent difficulties of employment arising with neighbouring areas.

When will a decision be reached in the case of Barnsley?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the number of children who left the public elementary schools during the year ended 31st March, 1934, and, for comparison, the number who left during the previous 12 months; and if he has had any reports as to the effects on the employment market of the increased number of children leaving school during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1934?

The number of children who left the public elementary schools for employment during the year ended 31st March, 1934, was 533,140. The corresponding figure for the year ended 31st March, 1933, was 371,026. With regard to the second part of the Question, my Noble Friend is informed by the Minister of Labour that reports received by him indicate that the additional number of children who left school during the year ended the 31st March, 1934, have been readily absorbed into employment in many parts of the country, notably in most of the industrial centres of the south-eastern and midland areas. In a number of these areas, despite the additional numbers available, it has not been possible to meet all demands for juvenile labour. On the other hand, in some parts of South Wales and on the north-east coast, and in certain other areas, the larger number of children leaving school has increased the volume of juvenile labour surplus to local requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can report on the negotiations which have been taking place between the Board of Education and the representatives of the teachers relative to the question of the pensions of teachers who retire during the operation of the economy cuts?

My Noble Friend has informed the National Union of Teachers of the conditions which would need to be attached to any arrangement for securing that the pensions of teachers retiring during the currency of the economy cuts should not be reduced by reason of those cuts, and has inquired whether, on the assumption that time could be found for the introduction of the necessary legislation, and that there was general agreement on the part of the other parties concerned, the Executive of the Union would desire the introduction of legislation on the lines indicated by him. My Noble Friend has not yet been informed of the wishes of the Executive in the matter.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the conditions offered imply that sacrifices will be called for from other teachers?

The matter is rather complicated. The conditions of the Government's offer are indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Fairfield (Mr. Brocklebank), on 12th July last, of which I will send my hon. Friend a copy.

Will my hon. Friend press upon his colleague the fact that this matter is causing considerable concern?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has any record of accidents in primary or secondary schools which have been caused by cinematograph displays?

No case of an accident caused by a cinematograph display has been brought to the notice of the Board.