§ 5 Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Education (1) if he will give an assurance that the needs of the children of overspill families in respect of scholarships to grammar and technical 1588 schools are adequately provided for in south Staffordshire;
(2) what percentage of the children in Wombourn, Staffordshire, can gain scholarships to grammar and technical schools;
(3) if children of families overspilled from Wolverhampton to Wombourn, Staffordshire, can be given a proportion of the scholarship places in Wolverhampton grammar and technical schools.
§ Mr. VosperIn south Staffordshire about 14 per cent. of the children are admitted each year to grammar and technical schools, and all children in the area, including those who have moved from Wolverhampton, have the same chance of gaining places in these schools. Fourteen per cent. is on the low side, and five grammar or grammar-technical schools are under construction or planned for the next two years' programmes. The two local education authorities should consider how many grammar or technical school places for Staffordshire children there should be in Wolverhampton.
§ Mr. SimmonsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I get more complaints about lack of accommodation in technical and secondary schools in south Staffordshire than about any other subject? Is he also aware that the population of Wombourn has trebled because of overspill and that I am told that only 3 per cent. of the overspill children get places in these schools? Has Wolverhampton no responsibility to its citizens who have gone to Wombourn but who still pay rates to Wolverhampton?
§ Mr. VosperIn fact, 86 Staffordshire children were admitted to Wolverhampton grammar and technical schools, but as the child population of Wolverhampton expands that number will decrease. For that reason Staffordshire is building further schools itself. I am aware of the difficulty in this area and that the percentage is on the low side, but five new schools are either under construction or planned.