§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the Scotch Education Department have any Returns showing the number of children in Scotland attending other than State-aided schools; if so, what was the date of the last Return; how many children were on the School Register and in average attendance at such schools in all Scotland; and what were the increases or decreases on such School Registers and in average attendance since any previous Return, and the date of such previous Return?
§ *MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONThe statistics of the school supply, based upon Returns made by School Boards, were given in a Blue Book laid before Parliament in 1888. According to this the elementary schools, recognised by School Boards as efficient but not in receipt of State aid, contained accommodation for 29,770, and had an average attendance of 18,307. A similar Blue Book was issued in 1880, and according to it the accommodation in such schools was 50,031. The average attendance at that date was not given in the Returns; nor did either of the Returns state the number on the School Registers.