Independent Schools

HC Deb 26 June 1996 vol 280 cc325-6

7. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on independent schools. [33202]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mrs. Cheryl Gillan)

Independent schools are beacons of choice, diversity and excellence. We want them to flourish. Through the expanding assisted places scheme, we are making opportunities at top independent schools more widely available.

Mr. Winterton

Quality and diversity of choice are what parents demand. Is my hon. Friend aware that the cost of a Government-assisted sixth form place in an independent school is, on average, less than the cost of a sixth form place in a state school when one takes into account the capital and administrative costs that are included in independent schools' fees but are not included in the standard spending assessment of local education authorities? Will my hon. Friend give me and the House an assurance that she will continue to promote the assisted places scheme and expand it so that as many children as possible, from as wide a spectrum as possible, are able to take advantage of what independent schools can provide for this country?

Mrs. Gillan

My hon. Friend makes an extremely valid point, and I am extremely happy to confirm to him and the House that we are committed to the assisted places scheme, which currently offers 34,000 children, more than 80 per cent. of whom come from families with incomes below the national average, an excellent education. We have announced a doubling of the scheme over time, and from September 9,700 places will be available in 355 schools. I hope that the thousands of parents of children who currently benefit from the scheme, or who may benefit from it in future, will notice the Opposition's clearly stated policy—one of their few clearly stated policies—to destroy this ladder of opportunity.

Mr. Hanson

Does the Minister accept that many Opposition Members view with some scepticism the Government's continued commitment to the assisted places scheme while local authorities throughout England and Wales have to reduce expenditure on local education provision because of the Government's revenue support grant settlement? Will she say whether independent schools provide a model for the future, that is, selection and fee paying for schools in the public sector that are currently subject to the document that was produced yesterday?

Mrs. Gillan

Independent schools provide choice and diversity for parents who wish to send their children to them. I accept that the Opposition wish to destroy the scheme. I also accept that they do so on the basis of a false premise. In fact, if one tried to educate all the pupils who are currently educated under the assisted places scheme back in the state system—for example, at the cost per pupil of a Hackney Downs education package—it would cost more than the current scheme costs the Government at the moment.

Mr. John Marshall

Does my hon. Friend agree that the assisted places scheme widens choice and enables those schools to have a wider social spread in their pupils? Is she surprised that the opposition to this scheme comes from a party led by an old Fettesian and whose Chief Whip also went to an independent school?

Mrs. Gillan

My hon. Friend again makes an extremely good point. It is just another example of the Labour party saying one thing and doing another.

Mr. Jamieson

As £350 million of taxpayers' money is being spent in independent schools, can the Minister say why Ofsted has stopped inspecting them?

Mrs. Gillan

Independent schools are currently subjected to a very rigorous regime. The Secretary of State has powers over independent schools, and the hon. Gentleman is simply pursuing a vendetta against a scheme that offers thousands of children from families who could not otherwise afford it the opportunity to get a good education in an independent school.