§ 16. Mr. John Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether those local authorities which previously indicated an intention to initiate the assisted school places scheme will continue to do so following the county council elections.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe assisted places scheme is being established by my Department in conjunction with the 220 participating schools. The only involvement of local education authorities in the scheme is the requirement that pupils in schools they maintain must have their approval before transferring to assisted places at sixth form level. I am not aware that the recent county council elections have yet had any impact on that procedure.