HC Deb 21 March 1989 vol 149 c554W
Mr. Dewar

To 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.