§ Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieuasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many boarding places are provided in local authority schools; how many of these are for weekly boarders; and whether it is her policy to encourage an increase in such places for areas in which secondary school children have to travel substantial distances.
§ Mrs. ThatcherIn January 1972 there were 10,674 boarding pupils in maintained schools in England. Information about numbers of weekly boarders is not available in my Department. It is for local education authorities to consider whether they need to increase the number of boarding places available to children in their areas. I would consider proposals on their merits in relation to other calls on resources available for school building.