§ 22. Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current state of progress in the assisted places scheme.
§ 23. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in plans for the assisted places scheme in private schools.
§ Dr. BoysonProvisional expressions of interest in the scheme have been received from 469 schools, including all the direct grant grammar schools that are becoming independent. Local education authorities have been informed of the response from schools serving their areas and invited to make known to the Secretary of State their views on the operation of the scheme in their areas. Schools will be invited to submit formal applications for membership of the scheme later this term as soon as it is possible to let them have details of the likely content of regulations relating to the scheme and also of the income scale to be used, following consultations on the proposals for an income scale contained in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Shelton) on 7 February.—[Vol. 978, c. 288.]