Byers: Concession on Places

Government Makes Cocession As School Places Measures Clear Commons

The Education (Schools) Bill, which also aims to bring about a reduction in infant class sizes, was given a third reading by 399 votes to 147, Government majority 252, and now goes to the Lords.

The Government wants to scrap the Assisted Places Scheme, which subsidises independent school fees for children from less well-off families, and use the money saved to cut primary class sizes. Under the Bill, children in secondary education already benefiting under the scheme will be able to keep their assisted place until they leave school.

Education Minister Stephen Byers told MPs there had been concern about some children going into secondary education at the age of 10. He said that, as the law stood, only those aged 10-and-a-half or older were deemed to be in secondary education and therefore receiving an assisted place to the age of 18.

"It is our intention to extend that provision to all 10-year-olds so that they will receive an assisted place at the same school until the age of 18." he said.

Opening the third reading debate earlier, School Standards Minister Estelle Morris said the Bill represented Government's "determination to have an education service that raises standards for the many and not the few. "It shows that we have turned our back on policies that believe only a few can succeed or that to reach the top you have to escape from the maintained sector." she said.

Gillian Shephard

Shadow Education and Employment Secretary Gillian Shephard accused ministers of taking an "overmighty attitude to the conventions of the House", for having "a determination to drive through dogma-led policies despite the consequences" and for relying on "soundbites instead of solutions".

She told the Commons: "This House is being asked to agree to the destruction of the Assisted Places Scheme, the destruction of choice and opportunity for children whose parents wish them to take that route, the destruction of excellence, in order to benefit the many, as the Government put it, when they have not the least idea of how to bring that benefit about."