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Voucher Schemes

Volume 952: debated on Tuesday 20 June 1978

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23.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she proposes to introduce the voucher system in schools in order to increase parental choice.

No. A voucher system, as the Kent feasibility study makes clear, is cumbrous and expensive. There are more efficient and fairer ways of taking account of parental wishes.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the study carried out by Kent County Council, she has any plans to provide central Government funds to assist in experiments with the voucher system.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, following the study by Kent County Council, she will set up an examination into the feasibility of voucher schemes in education.

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has received regarding a voucher scheme for payment of education.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have conducted experiments in the voucher system of educational payment; and if she will make a statement.

I am not aware that any local education authority has conducted an experiment with the voucher system, but I understand that Kent is planning to do so following the feasibility study that it has conducted, which was published earlier this month.