HC Deb 15 March 1977 vol 928 cc148-9W
32. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what policy response her Department is planning to make to the future decline in the school population, especially in London.

Miss Margaret Jackson

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 21st February.—[Vol. 926, c.476–77.]

43. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils of statutory school age are in attendance at secondary and primary schools at the present time; and how many she expects to be on the roll in 10 years' time.

Miss Margaret Jackson

In January 1976, the latest date for which information is available, there were 8,968,000 pupils of compulsory school age in schools in England and Wales. The estimate for January 1977 is 8,963,000 and the projection for January 1987, based on population projections made by the Government Actuary's Department, is 6,995,000.