HC Deb 18 January 1980 vol 976 cc865-6W
Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision he intends to make for boys in North Northumberland to avail themselves of his proposed assisted places scheme, in view of the fact that he has been able to issue invitations only to girls' schools in the area to take part in the scheme.

Dr. Boyson

My right hon and learned Friend, in selecting schools for membership of the scheme, will, whenever possible, be concerned to achieve a reasonable spread of opportunity geographically, and a balance of opportunities for boys and girls.

However, my right hon. and learned Friend regrets that, because of the distribution of independent and direct grant schools about the country, the distribu-

area and the corresponding figure for 1975.

Dr. Boyson

The numbers of pupils attending maintained primary and secondary schools in the Inner London Education Authority area were as follows:

Dr. Boyson

The numbers of people registered with the Department of Employment, in England, as unemployed and seeking school teaching posts in December 1979 are shown below. Information on their qualifications is not held.

tion of schools offering assisted places is bound to be uneven, so that some pupils will not live within convenient daily travelling distance of such a school.