§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his estimate of the building costs required to provide the necessary additional places in the public sector in the event of the withdrawal of the direct grant;
122W(2) how many schools he now expects to opt for the public sector, following the removal of the direct grant;
(3) how many direct grant schools he expects to opt out of the public sector following the removal of the direct grant;
(4) how many teachers from schools that elect to become independent he expects to come into the public sector of education following the removal of the direct grant;
(5) what is his estimate of the number of pupils from schools that elect to become independent who would transfer to the public sector of education following the removal of the direct grant;
(6) what estimate he has made of the overall benefit to education if the direct grant were removed.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair) on 19th November— [Vol. 881, c. 1080.] It is not yet possible to make precise estimates of these matters.