HC Deb 06 August 1980 vol 990 cc162-4W
Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number and total cost of grammar school scholarships in each education board area for the past five years.

Mr. Goodhart

Grammar school scholarships were abolished with effect from 1 September 1978. The information in the following table relates to the number and cost of grammar school scholarships held on 31 December for each of the five financial years preceding the date of abolition.

£'000
1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 *1978–79
Cost No. Cost No. Cost No. Cost No. Cost No.
Belfast 1,593 8,454 2,469 8,800 2,827 9,033 3,055 8,943 1,057 13,438
North Eastern 1,429 10,129 2,246 10,495 2,803 10,675 3,197 10,965 1,147 11,457
South Eastern 1,066 8,710 1,927 9,124 2,664 9,716 3,086 10,319 1,226 7,977
Southern 958 7,816 1,729 8,098 1,985 8,177 2,341 8,032 922 8,224
Western 853 7,714 1,850 8,039 1,890 8,537 2,260 8,820 704 8,980
Total 5,899 42,823 10,221 44,556 12,169 46,138 13,939 47,079 5,056 50,076
* Cost for period 1 April to 31 August 1978 only. Numbers are for non-feepaying pupils attending grammar schools as at 30 September 1978.