§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that by a regulation of the Kent Education Committee a child whose parents' joint income does not exceed £350 per annum, after deducting an amount of £40 in respect of each child in the family, is qualified to enter the exanimation for transfer from the elementary 731W school to the Southlands Grammar School, New Romney, and that the effect of fixing the limit of income at this figure is to restrict the entry of the child of working-class parents, who number 80 per cent. of the population; whether he is aware that if the income limit for free scholarships was reduced to £150, and there were instituted a number of half-scholarships for children whose parents' income exceeds £150 but does not exceed £350, the present number of 78 children in the school would be increased, and the children of working-class parents would have a better chance of entry; and whether he will take up this matter with the local education committee with a view to ascertaining the facts?
§ Mr. TREVELYANDespite the restrictions referred to, the percentage of free places awarded at this grammar school to pupils coming from public elementary schools has been considerably in excess of the standard of 25 per cent. prescribed in the Board's Regulations. Under the circumstances, I do not feel justified in interfering with the authority's discretion in the matter, or in pressing upon them the suggestion contained in the question, which might involve a material reduction in the number of free places awarded.