HC Deb 15 September 1915 vol 74 c42W
Mr. KING

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, according to the Census Returns of 1901 and 1911, there were in 1903 and 1913 children of between the ages of 14 and 15 years to the number of 685,655 and 687,255, respectively, and that of these there were in public elementary schools children of that age to the number of 53,926 and 37,114, respectively; and whether, in view of the free scholarships in secondary schools in 1913 being only 13,314, he will explain how more children above the ages of 14 and 15 are now being educated than was so educated 10 years ago?

Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON

My hon. Friend has overlooked the number of fee-paying pupils of 14 and under 15 years of age in secondary schools who came from public elementary schools, namely, 12,229. If these are added to the number of free scholars of the same age who came from public elementary schools (12,757), the total for secondary schools is 24,986, which, added to the number quoted for elementary schools (37,114), gives a total for 1913 of 62,100.