Grandma70s I would guess it was more common in state schools. TBH I didn't know anyone who didn't go to a state school. BTW I'm not saying the use of corporal punishment was regular, just that it was widely used, although some teachers used more than others.
In primary school we never had the ruler on the knuckles, but on the palm of the hand. In secondary school lines and detention were common, especially in England.
I was only given corporal punishment the one time I described before. I don't remember ever getting lines, but I do remember getting detention a couple of times when the teacher gave the whole class detention. I admit I was such a goody goody, but I was also a good pupil and in the top 5 in my year. I think my younger brother got the strap a couple of times in primary school, but I don't think my youngest brother ever had it.
Hunt, the Chancellor, gets his figures wrong!