§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total current annual cost to public funds of the various Government schemes for sending children to private or independent schools. [27054]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Department's expenditure on the assisted places scheme and the music and ballet schools scheme—which provide means-tested fee remission for certain pupils attending participating independent schools—in England in the financial year 1994–95 was £101.5 million and £6.8 million respectively. Outturn capital and recurrent expenditure in the same year on the 15 city technology colleges—which are also independent schools—was £50.1 million. These figures do not include the purchase of places by local authorities, whether for pupils generally or for those with special educational needs, in independent schools or in nursery establishments. Questions about comparable provision elsewhere in the United Kingdom, or for the children of service men and diplomatic staff, are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State responsible for those areas.