HC Deb 11 February 1963 vol 671 cc139-40W
Mr. Longden

asked the Minister of Education how many children between five and 15 years of age were being educated in State schools, and how many privately, in 1950 and in the latest convenient year, respectively; and what was

1950–51 1961–62
— Meals (Maintained Schools) Milk (Maintained and non-maintained Schools) Meals (Maintained Schools) Milk (Maintained and non-maintained Schools)
1. Number of children taking school meals and school milk on a day in October, 1950 and 1961 2,696,228 4,638,052 3,560,115 5,927,430
2. Net expenditure of Local Education Authorities:
Running cost £20,981,997 *£6,860,650 £42,533,219 £11,805,148
Capital expenditure £1,765,128 — £7,310,223 —
3. Number of children paying for meals† 2,399,700 — 3,321,646 —
4. Normal charge per dinner 6d. — 1s. —
5. Charge as proportion of running cost per dinner 42 per cent. — 49 per cent. —
* The cost of milk in this year was met by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
† School milk is provided free of charge to children.

the total cost of public education in each of the two years.

Sir E. Boyle

The information is as follows:

— 1949–50 1961–62
Pupils aged 5–15 (in (thousands):
Maintained schools 5,339.3 6,381.5
Direct grant schools 69.6 82.6
Independent schools 422.8(a) 382.8
5,831.7 6,846.9
Public Educational Expenditure (b) £296.7m. £928.0m.

NOTES:

(a) Partly estimated.

(b) Excludes universities, certain further education establishments maintained by other Government Departments, teachers superannuation, museums.