§ Mr. Wardasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he requires to be satisfied that a local education authority has a shortage of places in its secondary schools before approving applications under Section 6 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 for the take up of places by such an authority at independent fee-charging schools;
(2) when he or his predecessors approved arrangements under which Cambridgeshire County Council takes places at the Perse School, Cambridge, and at Kimbolton School near St. Neots; and whether his approval will be required under Section 6 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 before the county council can continue to take places at those schools when they become part of the independent sector.
§ Miss Joan LestorIn 1959 the then Minister of Education gave general approval to the making by local education authorities of arrangements under Section 6(1) of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 for the provision of primary and secondary education for pupils at a school not maintained 471W by them or another local education authority. In consequence, authorities are not now required to seek the approval of the Secretary of State before taking places in direct grant or independent schools. Clause 5 of the Education Bill now before Parliament enables the Secretary of State to revoke previous approval of such arrangements.