HC Deb 14 July 1980 vol 988 c399W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is his policy to encourage more parents to pay for private education for their children.

Dr. Boyson

The decision to send children to independent schools is a matter for individual parents. Some parents of able children who wish to send them to independent schools but could not otherwise afford it will now be able to do so because of the Government's assisted places scheme. My center hon. and learned Friend intends that the first pupils should be admitted under the scheme in the autumn of 1981.