§ 19. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is saved to public funds by a parent educating a child privately, including a three-year course at a university for which no grant is paid.
§ Mr. CroslandIf small numbers of school children from a locality are educated privately there is little saving to public funds. If there are larger numbers, there could be a saving which might at the maximum amount to £2,000 a pupil for a full education up to 18. The greater part of the cost of university education is borne by public subsidy even in the case where no grant is paid, so no comparison of the kind requested is possible. Parental contribution for a university student towards maintenance and fees can rise to over £500 a year.