§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the numbers of fee-paying pupils entering schools in the private 125W sector in the years 1950 and 1975, respectively;
(2) what were the numbers of pupils entering schools in the private sector by means of local authority grants in the years 1950 and 1975, respectively;
(3) what were the numbers of pupils entering secondary schools in the public sector in the years 1950 and 1975, respectively;
(4) what were the numbers of pupils entering primary schools in the public and
School year 1949–50 1974–75 Estimated numbers of full-time pupils entering: Maintained Primary schools … 610,000 740,000 Maintained Secondary schools … 520,000 750,000 Independent and direct grant primary and secondary schools … 50,000 50,000 Information about the distribution of financial responsibility for pupils in the private sector is not available in a form which would make it possible to estimate the numbers entering that sector in particular years whose fees were paid from private and public sources respectively.
§ Mr. Edgeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to ensure that the admission of pupils to voluntary aided schools is done on a non-selective basis.
§ Miss Joan LestorIt is the Government's policy that selection for all secondary schools in the maintained sector, including voluntary aided schools, should be abolished. In September my right hon. Friend consulted local authority associations and the national bodies responsible for voluntary aided schools in England and Wales about the form possible legislation to give effect to this policy might take. He is now considering their responses.