Engagements

HC Deb 24 January 1995 vol 253 cc139-40

Q5. Mr. Legg

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 January.

The Prime Minister

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Legg

Will my right hon. Friend please assure those of my constituents whose children are at grammar and independent schools that he has no plans to abolish the assisted places scheme or charitable status, or to stop selection? Is my right hon. Friend aware that, although the Opposition wish to abolish such schools, many of their spokesmen have benefited from them?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend is quite right. A large number of what I believe are called, in current Labour terminology, "sensible" parents have evacuated their children from Labour-controlled education authorities and sent them elsewhere, including the Leader of the Opposition and the hon. Members for Peckham (Ms Harman), for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle), for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) and for Barking (Ms Hodge).

Mr. MacShane

Cheap.

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman may say that it is cheap, but that is what they have done.