HC Deb 12 May 1981 vol 4 cc607-8
9. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the assisted places scheme.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

Two hundred and twenty schools will be providing assisted places from September of this year. Participation agreements have been made for 204 of them and are being prepared for the remainder. A total of 5,439 assisted places will be available, of which 984 will be at sixth-form level, and the schools are currently engaged in the selection of assisted pupils.

Mr. Dormand

Why is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman honest about the matter? Why does he not admit that, despite all the fine things said about it, the scheme is a monumental flop? More importantly, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman put an end to the scheme so that the money spent on it can be put to use on the essential aspects of the service, which are being seriously neglected?

Mr. Carlisle

With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, and although we may differ on the scheme's purpose, I must reject what he said about what is happening in practice. Obviously, it is too early to give the full numbers involved. However, all the indications are that the scheme is going well.

Mr. Stokes

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the nation needs more public schoolboys not fewer, with their qualities of leadership and discipline and with their ability to mix with all types of people in society?

Mr. Carlisle

I am aware that the assisted places scheme will both widen parental choice and increase educational opportunity.

Mr. Kinnock

Will the Secretary of State inform his hon. Friend that few public schools are engaged in the scheme? They have been running away from the scheme since its announcement. Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman further aware that the available evidence shows that applicants for assisted places come from a class of home that bears a close resemblance to that from which direct grant school pupils came? Is the aim of providing private education for the children of the poor being fulfilled? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman recall the words—[Interruption]. I know that Conservative Members are embarrassed about the assisted places scheme and do not want to hear about it. Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman recall that Mrs. Mary Warnock said that when Ministers dismiss the £3 million that is being spent on the assisted places scheme this year as chickenfeed, it should be borne in mind that there are other chickens, including disabled children, to feed with that money?

Mr. Carlisle

First, I am aware that out of over 200 schools invited to join the scheme, 11 declined. Secondly, I think that it is right to say that every direct grant school that was forced into independence by the Labour Government has joined the scheme. Thirdly, all the indications contradict the hon. Gentleman's remarks. It would seem that the individual grant per child, based on the parents' income, will be higher than we had assumed because most of the places are going to parents of modest means.