§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to his Department of the assisted places scheme in Scottish schools in each of the last five years; and if he will give the estimated cost for 1989–90.
§ Mr. Rifkind[holding answer 1 March 1989]: The information is set out in the table. The assisted places scheme was introduced by the Government from 1981–82 to give parents in lower income families the opportunity to exercise choice in the education of their children.
School year Total expenditure £'000s 1984–85 3,229 1985–86 4,217 1986– 4,861 11987–88 5,303 11988–89 5,900 21989–90 6,800 1 Provisional figures. 2 Estimated expenditure.