HC Deb 25 October 1984 vol 65 c662W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report (a) how many schools are taking part in the assisted places scheme in the academic year 1984–85 and (b) how many schools which wished to take part could not meet the requirement that 60 per cent. of the aided pupils formerly attended maintained schools.

Mr. Dunn

There are now 226 schools in England in the scheme. The answer to the second part of the question cannot be known.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what cost-benefit analysis his Department has carried out of the expenditure involved in the assisted places scheme; to what conclusions it pointed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

The average cost to the public funds of an assisted place is broadly comparable to the average unit cost of educating a pupil in a maintained school. The widening of opportunities which the scheme offers to low-income families represents good value for money.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis his Department records and studies the examination results of children educated under the assisted places scheme; whether these results have been compared with those of children at maintained schools; and what conclusions he has come to concerning educational standards as a result of the scheme.

Mr. Dunn

Very few assisted pupils have as yet taken public examinations and it would be premature to draw conclusions on the results collected to date. Even with a larger sample, however, great care would be needed in interpreting such output measures.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report (a) how many pupils are taking part in the assisted places scheme in the academic year 1984–85 and (b) of these, how many and what percentage attended non-maintained schools (i) at some time in their educational history and (ii) immediately prior to taking up an assisted place.

Mr. Dunn

Returns are not yet available from all schools to permit the first part of the question to be answered. Information is not, however, collected which would permit an answer to the second part of the question in the terms specified.