HC Deb 16 June 1997 vol 296 c62W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of public money spent on the assisted places scheme since its inception; [3596]

(2) how many assisted places there are in each of the private schools of Wales. [3595]

Mr. Hain

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on Wednesday 11 June 1997,Official Report, column 487.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount of public money that must be provided to the assisted places scheme up to the cessation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [3597]

Mr. Hain

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the Education (Schools) Bill, the assisted places scheme will be phased-out over a period of 7 years. The total cost of the scheme over that time is estimated at around £20 million.