§ 18. Mr. SumbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in England and Wales were offered places in the academic year 1989–90 under the assisted places scheme.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthAbout 26,500 pupils held assisted places in England in the academic year 1989–90. The figures for Wales are a matter for the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. SumbergDoes the Minister agree that the assisted places scheme has been a great educational achievement of the Government because it has allowed pupils from modest backgrounds to attend some of our finest schools, such as Manchester grammar school and Bury grammar school? Does he further agree that it is disgraceful that some of the former grammar school boys on the Opposition Benches, some of whom attended those schools, should now seek by abolishing the scheme to deny to others what they enjoyed?
§ Mr. HowarthI agree completely with my hon. Friend. The assisted places scheme has enabled schools which had a tradition of providing a distinguished academic education to children from less well-off families to revive and renew that tradition. Members of the last Labour Government, many of whom had been educated at direct grant schools and grammar schools, kicked away that ladder of opportunity for the next generation of children. Now they propose to kick away the assisted places scheme. We, by constrast, are extending the scheme, and am pleased to say that a further 16 schools have today been accepted into the scheme.