HC Deb 05 March 1925 vol 181 cc671-2W
Captain E. EVANS

asked the President of the Board of Education how many young persons were enrolled and in attendance, respectively, for more than 14 hours per week, at evening schools during the sessions 1912–13, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, and 1923–24?

Lord E. PERCY

Courses in evening schools never occupy 14 hours a week, and are rarely arranged to occupy more than 7 hours a week; frequently the number of hours is smaller, though grant is not ordinarily paid in respect of any student who does not receive at least 14 hours' instruction altogether. Statistics for the year ended 31st July, 1924. are not yet completed, but for the other years referred to in the question the total numbers of enrolled students under 18 years of age in attendance at evening

Area. Population (1921 census). Number of Free Place on the 1st October, 1924. Free Places per 1,000 of population.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Bradford 285,979 5,022 17.6
Halifax 99,129 788 7.9
Manchester 730,551 3,135 4.3
Oldham 145,001 288 2
Salford 234,150 934 4
Smethwick 75,757 112 1.5
Sheffield 511,748 2,407 4.7
Wallasey 90,721 810 8.9
Cardiff 219,658 1,774 8.1
*Glamorgan 632,592 3,576 5.7
Rhondda 162,729 1,706 10.5
Swansea 157,561 998 6.3
Merthyr Tydfil 80,161 1,100 13.7
Newport (Mon.) 92,369 796 8.6
*Excludes Rhondda, figures for which are given separately.

It should be noted that in the above table are included all free place pupils, whether or not the particular school courses in England and Wales were as follow:

1912–13 402,434
1920–21 417,166
1921–22 373,479
1922–23 326,113

I am not able to distribute these figures according to the weekly hours of attendance.