§ Mr. Gerald BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to secure a wider distribution of assisted places throughout England.
§ Mr. ButcherThis Department is contacting certain independent schools in four regions of the country with a view to widening the geographical availability of assisted places. The regions concerned are the North-East, the east midlands, South Yorkshire and the black country. We are approaching certain existing APS member schools in these regions to ascertain whether they would like more assisted places. We are also inviting certain schools which are not at present in the scheme, to apply to join. The target of 35,000 assisted places by the mid-1990s remains.