Education Leaving Age

Mr. Swayne
20. To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals that all young people should remain in education or training until the age of 18.

Ed Balls
We announced last week our intention to legislate to raise the participation age, so that all young people continue in education or training until 18 from 2015. The legislation builds on the Green Paper published in March and the booklet 'Raising Expectations' published on Monday.

We believe that this will give our young people the best chance to achieve and succeed, leading to improved life chances, and allow our economy to continue to compete internationally.