§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the allocation of the children of immigrant families to various schools in Ilford; whether he is satisfied that the arrangements proposed by the education authority are in accordance with the guidance given by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss BaconGeneral arrangements for the admission of pupils is a matter for the local education authority and the managers or governors of schools. The guidance given by my Department to authorities in Circular 7/65 is still appropriate and I hope they will continue to have regard to it.
§ Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of additional immigrant children for whom provision of primary and secondary school places, shown separately, is required within the city of Leicester in each of the next three years.
§ Miss BaconThe Leicester Authority estimate that, if immigrant children continue to arrive in the City at the same rate as in the first nine months of 1968, 770 children of primary school age and 430 of secondary school age will arrive each year. There is no means of telling whether immigrant children will continue to arrive in Leicester at such a rate and until there is evidence of the exact rate of arrivals in future, which can be measured against the availability of places in existing schools, I cannot say how many additional school places might be needed.
§ Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 441W in how many primary schools in the city of Leicester is the percentage of immigrant children in excess of the figure of 33 per cent.; and what is the highest percentage in any class in such schools.
§ Miss BaconThe percentage of 33 is exceeded in 11 primary schools in Leicester. The answer to the second part of the Question is not available.