HC Deb 15 June 1904 vol 136 cc129-30
SIR JOHN GORST

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of children under nine years old now in industrial schools; the number of children under that age who have been committed during the last ten years to industrial schools; the average annual cost of maintaining a child in an industrial school; and the portion of such cost defrayed by public funds, private charity, and the profits of the child's labour, respectively.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I cannot give the number of children under nine years of age now in industrial schools without an elaborate scrutiny of books and forms which it will take a considerable time to carry out. Perhaps it will serve my right hon. friend's purpose if I give the figures of committals during the last ten years in respect of children under eight and between eight and ten years.

Number of children committed to Industrial Schools.

Year. Under 8 years of age. Over 8 and under 10 years of age.
1893 345 695
1894 353 658
1895 339 656
1896 396 729
1897 415 708
1898 374 648
1899 292 609
1900 298 568
1901 315 592
1902 313 576

The gross average annual cost of a child committed to an industrial school (including the cost of disposing of the child on discharge) is £22 1s. 8d. Of this cost public funds defray £18 6s., private charity £1 11s. 6d., and profits of child's labour £1 4s. 6d.