Cutback

IT now looks as if the much publicised Government intention to delay the raising of the school leaving age will need some modification. Originally mooted in the thirties and enshrined in the 1944 Education Act, the provision to date only relates to the special schools. It would seem that the hawks in the Cabinet wished initially for a four/five year delay in the provision — presumably on the basis that 25 FIIIS equalled a million and three quarter school leavers. The likely compromise, however, of a two‐year RSLA delay is no more satisfactory. Indeed, it would show such a slight financial gain as to be worthless. To make matters worse, this will be matched by attacks on school meals and free milk — as a sop to the hawks, while leaving education as free from cuts as possible.