HC Deb 06 December 1984 vol 69 cc263-4W
Mr. Corrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce statistics for the assisted places scheme in the current school session in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

At the beginning of the current school session there were 2,173 pupils receiving assistance under the assisted places scheme. Additional pupils will be admitted to assisted places throughout the 1984–85 school session.

Of the 2,173 pupils now in the scheme, 1,222—56 per cent.—are attending a fee-paying school prior to taking up an assisted place. The corresponding proportion for the new intake of pupils joining the scheme at the beginning of the current school session was 53 per cent.

Lower income families continue to benefit substantially from the scheme. In 1984–85, 1,132 pupils—53 per cent. of those in the scheme—will be receiving full fee remission because they have a family income of £6,046 per annum or less. A further 202 pupils—9 per cent.—have family incomes between £6,047 and £7,000 per annum and 250—12 per cent.—between £7,001 and £8,000.