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(5) THE CENSUS DEFINITION OF ''ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION'' EXCLUDES PERSONS AGED UNDER 14 YEARS, AND THIS IS IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.K, ADOPT AN EVEN HIGHER MINIMUM AGE LIMIT FOR
THIS PURPOSE.
6) ALTHOUGH NO SPECIFIC PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PLANNED TO COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD AND NO SPECIAL BUDGET EARMARKED, A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES
FIELD WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE DURING 1979 WILL BENEFIT CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE. THESE INCLUDE:
(A) EXTENSION OF UNIVERSAL AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION TO THE 14TH BIRTHDAY (AND TO 15 IN 1980):
(B) AN INCREASE OF 3,700 IN THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE HANDICAPPED, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 23,500, TOGETHER
WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SUBSIDY SYSTEM TO WIDEN THE RANGE OF
SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THESE SCHOOLS.
(C) NEW LEGISLATION WILL EXTEND THE CONTROLS ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE (SEE PARA. (9) FOR DETAILS).
(D)
CHILDREN.
CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION IN SOCIAL WORKS AMONGST SCHOOL
A GROUP OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH ARE MOSTLY HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HAS SET UP A COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROVISION FOR CHILD WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT.
(7) THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS STATUTORY POWERS TO SERVE AN ATTENDANCE ORDER ON A PARENT WHO IS WITHHOLDING A CHILD BETWEEN 6 AND 12 FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL WITHOUT A REASONABLE EXCUSE.. IT IS PROPOSED TO EXTEND THESE POWERS TO CHILDREN AGED 12 AND 13 FROM SEPTEMBER 1979 AND AGED 14 (OR COMPLETION OF FORM 111) FROM SEPTEMBER 1980. THE DISTRICT EDUCATION INSPECTORS (PRESENT STRENGTH 98 OFFICERS) ASSISTED BY SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT STAFF
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING CASES OF NON-ATTENDANCE. IN ONLY TWO CASES SINCE 1971 HAS IT BEEN NECESSARY TO INVOKE THE DIRECTOR'S POWERS, BUT IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR 10,099 CASES WERE INVESTIGATED. IN 559 CASES THE PARENTS WERE PERSUADED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL: IN 7,442 OTHERS THE CHILDREN WERE FOUND
TO BE ATTENDING SCHOOL ELSEWHERE, WHILE 1,237 COULD NOT BE TRACED,
AND 361 WERE DEEMED TO HAVE A REASONABLE EXCUSE.
3 CONFIDENTIAL
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