asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give an estimate of the amount of public expenditure involved in the introduction of an assisted places scheme for fee-paying schools.

When in full operation in 1986, about £5 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will name the interested parties with whom he has had and intends having discussions regarding the introduction of an assisted places scheme for fee-paying schools; and what policies they have proposed.

The scheme has been mentioned in the course of general meetings with the education committee of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Council of In- dependent Schools and the Association of Directors of Education. Formal discussions will not take place until after the issue of a consultative paper to interested bodies including the Convention, teachers' associations, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, the schools themselves and the Confederation for the Advancement of State Education.