To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which private schools receive support from public funds for the assisted places scheme; and how much each received in the financial year 1989–90.

[holding answer 25 January 1991]: The Government do not give direct financial assistance to independent schools. The assisted places scheme provides financial help for parents to send their children to independent schools. It concentrates assistance on low-income families. In the 1989–90 school sesssion 48 per cent. of those benefiting came from families whose total income was less than £8,500.