§ 12. Mr. K. Lindsayasked the Minister of Education whether he has circularised local education authorities giving them a figure of the number of vacancies open at independent schools for children at primary schools; what has been the response; on what basis the selection is made; and what is the average total cost to the taxpayers and ratepayers.
§ Mr. TomlinsonParticulars of the places put by independent secondary schools at the disposal of the Committee on Boarding Education were circulated to all local education authorities. Sixty-five have so far been allocated. In addition, some local education authorities have made similar arrangements direct with the schools. The selection of the pupils is a matter for the individual local education authorities, to whom guidance has been given in Administrative Memorandum No. 225. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.
§ Mr. LindsayWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the grammar schools are not further weakened at the expense of the independent schools, because they remain the only avenue by which a poor boy can get to a university?
§ Mr. LipsonWill the right hon. Gentleman say if independent schools can make application direct to local education authorities indicating how many places they can offer to children from primary schools?
§ Mr. TomlinsonYes, Sir, there is nothing to prevent that.