To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the average number of hours a Year 7 pupil in a local education authority school spent receiving tuition in the classroom in (a) 1978–79, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1998–99. [81715]

I am unable to provide my hon. Friend with an estimate of the average number of hours a Year 7 pupil spent receiving tuition in the classroom as the data is not available for the years specified. However, Circular 7/90 recommends minimum levels of time that pupils are taught in schools which for Years 7 to 11 pupils is 24 hours per week.