§ Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Education, in view of the fact that, in the year ended 30th April, 1950, 67.9 per cent. of the awards to Oxford and Cambridge 14W were secured by pupils of independent and direct grant schools, what steps he is taking to secure that able children, of rich or poor parents, shall be eligible for places at these schools.
§ Mr. TomlinsonMy grant regulations secure that no pupil shall be precluded from entering a direct-grant grammar school by reason of the inability of his parents to pay fees, and regulations made under Section 81 of the Education Act, 1944, empower local education authorities to assist with the fees at independent schools in suitable cases where the financial circumstances justify this. I would point out that the percentage figure quoted in the Question takes no account of State Scholarships and local education authorities' awards to the two universities.