§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of assisted places scheme pupils in receipt of free school meals; and if he will disaggregate the figures for each participating school.
§ Mr. John MackayThe information is as follows:
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Number of Assisted Pupils Receiving Free School Meals Number Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen 1 Belmont House School, Newton Mearns 1 Craigholme School for Girls, glasgow 4 Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, Edinburgh 40 Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh George Watson's College, Edinburgh Dollar Academy 2 Edinburgh Academy 4 Fernhill School, Glasgow 8 Fettest College, Edinburgh 1 Fort Augustus Abbey School — George Heriot's School, Edinburgh 27 Glasgow Academy 8 Glenalmond College, Perthshire — Gordonstoun School, Morayshire — The High School of Glasgow — The High School of Dundee 28 Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow 15 Keil School, Dumbarton 11 Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow 4 Kilgraston, (Convent of the Sacred Heart) 8 Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas 17 Laurel Bank School, Glasgow 7 Lomond School, Helensburgh 2 Loretto School, Musselburgh — Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh 1 Morrison's Academy, Crieff 4 The Park School, Glasgow 8 Rannoch School, Perthshire — Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen 5 Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh 2 St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow 16 St. Columba's Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire 7 St. Denis & Cranley School, Edinburgh — St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh 2 St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews 1 St. Margaret's Convent School, Edinburgh 1 St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen — St. Margaret's School for Girls, (Edinburgh) 4 Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire — Wellington School, Ayr 1
Number Westbourne School for Girls, Glasgow 21 1261 1 provisional total for school year 1985–86.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what levels of parental income are laid down for free school meals under the assisted places scheme.
§ Mr. John MacKayCharges which would otherwise be made by a participating school in respect of meals provided in the middle of the day are remitted in full if the parents of an assisted pupil are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the limit of distance a pupil awarded a travel grant under the assisted places scheme may travel.
§ Mr. John MacKayThere is no prescribed limit of distance related to school travel grants, which are awarded to an eligible pupil where the walking distance between his home and the school exceeds three miles. However, expenditure eligible for grant may be calculated by reference to only a proportion of the distance travelled. Grants are determined in accordance with relevant income.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the travel grants awarded under the assisted places scheme can be awarded (a) on a daily basis and (b) on a weekly basis; and if such grants involve the cost of daily or weekly railway fares for such travel, respectively.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe arrangements for the payment of school travel grants under the assisted places scheme are at the discretion of individual schools who may, in the course of, or immediately before the commencement of any school year, make such payments in advance. Schools are expected to ensure that travel expenditure incurred in respect of journeys by public transport is reasonable and takes full advantage of available arrangements for season tickets or reduced or concessionary fares.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing expenditure on (a) the assisted places scheme and (b) education authority expenditure since 1981–82 using 1981–82 expenditure as a base of 100 in both cases.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information is as follows:
£ thousand Assisted places scheme1 Education authority2 (Total gross expenditure) 1981–82 799 (100) 1,340,287 (100) 1982–83 1,718 (215) 1,433,572 (107) 1983–84 2,454 (307) 1,495,125 (112) 1984–85 3,298 (413) 1,545,793 (115) 1985–86 34,259 (533) not yet available 1 The figures relate to school years and the high growth rate reflects the gradual build up of the scheme over a 5 year period, financed by resources released by the phasing out of the block maintenance grant arrangements over the same period. 2 The figures relate to financial years. 3 Provisional figure.