HL Deb 19 November 1969 vol 305 cc1055-6WA
LORD RAGLAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (1) How many children are in
    1. (i) county, and
    2. (ii) maintained voluntary schools (nursery, primary and secondary);
  2. (2) What is the annual cost of all maintained schools (county and voluntary combined);
  3. (3) How many children are in maintained voluntary schools that are not denominational.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

1. In January, 1969, there were 5,975,596 full-time pupils in county schools in England and Wales, and 1,777,406 pupils in maintained voluntary schools.

2. In the financial year 1968–69 expenditure by local education authorities on maintained schools (excluding nursery and special schools) in England and Wales was as follows:

£million
Current expenditure* 776.9
Loan charges 108.1
Capital expenditure met from revenue 13.2
* Teachers' salaries and other costs.
In addition, the Department of Education and Science made grants and loans totalling £17 .6 million towards the cost of building work at voluntary aided schools.

3. The precise answer to this question is not available. In January, 1969, the number of children in maintained voluntary schools other than Church of England, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Jewish chools was 135,830, mostly in non-denominational schools.