§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on the assisted places scheme in 1988–89 and the estimated expenditure in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.
§ Mr. LangAs regards the period 1989–91, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer he was given on 17 January. To achieve the planned increase in the number of children benefiting from the scheme I estimate that spending in 1991–92 could rise to £8.8 million.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of assisted places in independent schools for the following levels of family income: under £8,000 per annum, £8,000 to £12,000 per annum, £12,000 to £15,000 per annum and over £15,000 per annum for each of the years 1982–83 to 1988–89, inclusive.
§ Mr. LangThe information is as follows:
School Year Under £8,000 £8,000-£12,000 £12,000-£15,000 Over £15,000 1982–83 1,211 239 — — 1983–84 1,484 416 — — 1984–85 1,616 649 — — 1985–86 1,666 780 171 3 1986–87 1,532 768 285 41 1987–88 1,409 750 399 122 1988–891 1,273 697 433 214 1 Provisional figures.