HC Deb 21 June 1993 vol 227 cc9-10W
Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the lowest, highest and average sum of money paid for an assisted place in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Forth

In 1991–92, the lowest fee charged by a school participating in the scheme was £2,025. However, assisted places are subject to a means-tested contribution from parents. Hence the lowest cost to the Exchequer is nil where the parental contribution exceeds the fees charged. The highest cost to the Exchequer would be a pupil at the school charging the highest fee—£8,595—accepted under the scheme, who for reasons of low parental means was entitled to full fee remission. The average cost to the Exchequer for an assisted place was £3,100. These figures relate to England only.

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children received assisted places at schools in 1990, 1991, 1992 and the current year to date.

Mr. Forth

There were 26,740 children on assisted places in the academic year 1990–91, 27,641 in academic year 1991–92 and an estimated 28,670 assisted pupils in the current academic year 1992–93. These figures relate to pupils in England only.