§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many adults enrolled in day-time classes in Scottish state schools in the following school sessions(a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 24 July 1990]: There were 12,900, 14,010 and 13,525 persons aged over 18 years old who had resumed education in education authority schools in sessions 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90 respectively. This information was published in SED statistical bulletins 1/B1/1988, 5/B1/1989 and 9/B1/1990, copies of which are in the Library.
The presence of adults in the classroom is beneficial both to the pupils and to the adults themselves, and I expect that more adults will choose this path to continue their education in future. It is, however, for education authorities themselves to decide how far they wish and can afford to go in providing school education beyond the statutory requirements.