§ 47. Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will consider the abandonment of the means test on the income of parents of children winning places in secondary schools which was imposed as part of the 1931 economy measure, in view of the hardship involved and the fact that most of the other economies have now been abandoned?
Mr. LindsayNo, Sir. My Noble Friend sees no hardship in a system under which the amount, if any, paid by a parent by way of fees for his child's secondary education, is graduated according to his financial circumstances. In actual fact, 10,000 less pupils are now paying full fees than in 1932, although the secondary school population has increased by some 36,000 pupils.
§ Mr. ManderIs not this almost the only economy measure still in existence, and is it intended to maintain it permanently?
Mr. LindsayThis measure might have originated during the economy period, but to my mind it is a very equitable system all round.
§ Mr. TomlinsonWill the Minister inquire into the cost of finding out who should pay under this system and whether the cost is not greater than the amount saved?
Mr. LindsayI am trying to furnish some statistics for the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Hicks) on that point.