THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government what is the cost per child per annum—(1) for elementary education from the ages of 12 to H: (2) for secondary education from the ages of 12 to 16.
§ VISCOUNT CHELMSFORDMy Lords, I am afraid I cannot give the noble Earl a very specific answer to the Question which he has put, because we are not able to work out the figures according to the ages of the children, but I can tell him that at the present moment, as regards elementary education, the cost falling upon the Grants and rates is £11 10s. per child, and in the case of secondary education the gross cost is estimated at a little less than £27 per pupil and, when fees, endowments and other receipts are deducted, the net cost falling upon public funds is estimated at a little less than £17 per pupil. I am afraid that is as far as I can go, but I shall be very happy to provide the noble Earl with a Return which has been made out by the Board of Education regarding the cost per child of elementary education, if he would like to be furnished with a copy.