HC Deb 25 March 1985 vol 76 cc6-7
5. Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many private schools received public funds in Wales in 1984.

Mr. Stradling Thomas

In 1984, eight independent schools in Wales were reimbursed for remitted fees under the assisted places scheme and one received a grant under the direct grant scheme. Some schools will have received payments from boarding school allowances paid to some members of the armed, diplomatic and civil services or from local authorities in respect of children assisted by them.

Mr. Davies

Will the Minister confirm that £80,000 was paid to New College, Cardiff under the 1982 Industrial Development Act?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

No, Sir. New College, Cardiff is an independent establishment of further education and not an independent school. The £80,000 has not yet been paid, as it was only an offer of a job creation grant.

Dr. Marek

Does the Minister realise that at a time when the country is facing economic ruin his Department is continuing to pay out vast sums to maintain the private education sector? Does he agree that those vast sums are not needed by those who receive them, but have the effect merely of maintaining their privileges? Will he give the House, or make available in the Library, a complete breakdown of how much public money is given to the private education system in Wales?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

In the current academic year under the scheme 44 per cent. of pupils have a free place, and only 17 per cent. of families have an annual income in excess of £10,000. It should be borne in mind that fee remission is, broadly speaking, related to the gross income of the family, which in the case of two-parent families would include the earnings of both the husband and wife if they are working. I do not think that there can be any argument about the fact that the scheme is helping mainly the less-well-off families, in contradiction of the hon. Gentleman's assertion.

Mr. Barry Jones

Have not Welsh Office Ministers sanctioned £2.2 million for the public schools sector between 1983 and 1986, including an estimated £1.1 million for 1985–86? Is the Minister aware that the Clwyd education authority has cut the capitation allowance to its primary schools by 10 per cent. and to its secondary schools by 5 per cent.? How does the Minister justify that odd policy when Her Majesty's Inspectorate has emphasised the serious impact of expenditure cuts on our state schools?

The Minister is a public schoolboy from Rugby, the Secretary of State from Westminster and the hon. Member for Conwy (Mr. Roberts) from Harrow. They are favouring their own.

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I am very proud to have been at Rugby school. I think that we are all proud of the schools that we attended. I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman's question.

It is only right that there should be variety in education, and that people who wish to exercise their choice in this matter — most of whom are not from the better-off section of the community—should be allowed to do so. That is the purpose of the assisted places scheme.

The management of resources in Clwyd or in any other local education authority is a matter for the authority within the terms that make it possible for the authority to manage those resources more efficiently. It is a matter for the LEAs, not central Government.