§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the continued existence of public schools-is consistent with her policy of comprehensive education.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonNo. My right hon. Friend remains firmly committed to the long-term aim in our manifesto of phasing out fee paying in schools.
§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated cost of incorporating the public schools into the State system.
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§ Miss Margaret JacksonThere are too many uncertainties for an accurate estimate to be made, but the additional annual cost of public funds of maintaining all independent schools and all direct grant schools not already joining the maintained sector would be of the order of £150 million a year for tuition alone, excluding any capital costs and additional recurrent expenditure on boarding, transport and school meals.
§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of schoolchildren attended public schools in 1965, 1970, 1975, and at the latest available date.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe proportion of school pupils of compulsory school age and over attending independent schools in England and Wales was as follows:
per cent January 1965 … … … 5.8 January 1970 … … … 4.8 January 1975 … … … 4.4 January 1977 … … … 4.2