asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to assist cases of hardship experienced by parents of children attending grant-aided schools where fees have increased by 50 per cent. by introducing a fee remission scheme or some other form of relief.

A fee remission scheme has never been part of the grant-aid system in Scotland and I see no prospect of introducing one at this stage. The position of pupils who are already attending grant-aided schools at the time we begin to phase out grant is, however, one of the matters we shall be discusing with the schools.