§ Lord Dormand of Easingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many pupils are in the assisted places scheme; how many schools are involved; what is the cost per year of each assisted place and what is the national cost of a secondary school place.
§ Baroness BlatchThe total number of assisted pupils in the academic year 1989–90 was 27,008 and the total number of schools in the assisted places scheme in that year was 278. The cost per year for each assisted place pupil for the year 1989–90 was £2,364. The equivalent national cost of a pupil in secondary education for academic year 1989–90 is not yet available, but for the academic year 1988–89 an assisted place cost £2,121 against £1,985 in the maintained sector.