§ 123. Mr. John Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average annual cost of books for a child at primary school and secondary school, respectively, in Scotland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThis information is not available from education authorities' accounts. For 1968–69 the average annual expenditure for education authorities on books in all types of school is estimated to have been a little over £2 per pupil.
§ 124. Mr. John Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the annual average cost to a parent for books for a child at a school where fees will be charged on the basis that the Education (Scotland) Bill 1970 is implemented.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI can make no such estimate since after the Education (Scotland) Bill becomes law it will be for authorities to decide at which schools they will charge fees and whether to provide free books for pupils at these schools.