§ 27. Mr. Gordon Macdonaldasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of 1602 Education whether he is aware that there are a number of local education authorities where the percentage of special places in secondary schools is less than 25; and what action is being taken by the Board to bring about an improvement in such areas?
Mr. LindsayUnder Article 14 (c) of the Regulations for Secondary Schools the number of special places to be awarded in any school year is subject to a prescribed minimum limit, namely, 25 per cent. of the total number of admissions in the previous school year, or such other limit as may be approved by the Board. In a few areas the percentage may fall below 25, owing to the approval, in the case of certain individual schools, of a lower minimum limit, but I have no evidence that the schools are not complying with the requirements of the Regulations.
§ Mr. T. SmithHow many education authorities are not fulfilling the regulation as to 25 per cent.; and is it a fact that one of the Ridings in Yorkshire is among them?
Mr. LindsayThere are four, and the East Riding is one. But there are only four, and in one case—Rutland—there are exceptional circumstances. The figure for the East Riding is 22.9 per cent.