§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will remove the duty348W of investigating claims by parents seeking help under the assisted places scheme from participating schools and place such responsibility in the hands of an independent body. [19340]
§ Mrs. GillanSchools participating in the assisted places scheme determine eligibility for places and assess parental contributions towards fees, within the framework of the regulations and detailed guidance from the Department. Their discharge of these tasks is regularly audited. We continually seek ways of improving the administration of the scheme but have no present plans to remove responsibility from schools.