§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to propose limits to numbers in schools(a) to prevent schools maximising numbers and financial support under LMS and (b) to ensure equality between numbers in schools in difficult educational districts.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthNo. What the hon. Member proposes would run counter to the Government's policy of increasing parental choice through more open enrolment. There is no justification for keeping places empty in popular schools: if the demand is there, a school should be allowed to admit pupils up to its physical capacity.