HC Deb 01 May 1963 vol 676 cc1053-4
12. Mr. McInnes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of sixth form classes now functioning in the Scottish public schools under his jurisdiction, and what number of pupils those classes enrol.

Mr. Noble

In January, 1962, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, 209 public and grant-aided schools had sixth year classes with a total of 6,224 pupils.

Mr. McInnes

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is no information in the Departmental Annual Report on this aspect of sixth form classes? Will he say whether the figures he has given reveal an increase over the previous year? If they do, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the rate of increase?

Mr. Noble

I have not the figures to make a comparison with last year, but there has been an increase of 82 per cent. since 1954. This is substantial.