asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the ending of the scholastic year in the summer term is a great deterrent to the staggering of holidays; and whether he will take steps to bring about an alteration.

No, Sir. The fixing of the school holidays is a matter for the local education authorities and the authorities of the individual schools. They are aware of the need for fitting these holidays so far as possible to those agreed for local industries.

Will the Minister draw the attention of the local education authorities to the custom in Ireland where, I believe, the summer term ends in or about June, thereby meeting to some extent the point put forward by my hon. Friend?

All the different arrangements which are made in various parts of the country have been brought to their notice and steps are being taken whereby an alteration will take place in one of the examinations in a year or two, when it will be easier to accommodate this matter.