asked the Minister of Education if he is now in a position to state his policy on the recommendations of the Fleming Committee and the relations betwen the public schools and the State system of education.

The Fleming Committee recommended that opportunities of education in the public schools should be made available to boys and girls capable of profiting thereby irrespective of the income of their parents. For that purpose they devised two alternative schemes, of which Scheme A was largely adopted in framing the new regulations for direct grant grammar schools. It has not been practicable to implement Scheme B, but I am, nevertheless, anxious that such accommodation as can be made available in independent boarding schools should be at the disposal of local education authorities to supplement the provision which they are, and will be, in a position to make within the maintained school system.

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that no grants will be made out of public funds to public schools unless accompanied by a concomitant measure of public control.

No, Sir. At the moment I cannot give that assurance.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the public schools have not, up to the present, offered more places for pupils than local authorities are prepared to take?

No, I cannot admit that at this stage either. Where there is an opportunity at the present time to take a good form of education where it is available, and local authorities cannot provide boarding provision, I feel that local authorities should have the freedom to take advantage of the type of education available under the independent school system.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us why it has not been found practicable to implement Scheme B of the Fleming Committee?

I cannot give that information this afternoon, but I give an assurance to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that this has been looked at very carefully, and it is not practicable at the present time. I am not suggesting that what is being done now is the final answer Personally, I hope it is not.

Would my hon. Friend consider one recommendation of the Fleming Report and invite public schools which offer these facilities to invite one or more representatives of the local authority on to the governing body or council?

One distinguished public school—Mill Hill—where some 40 places are available to the local authority, is already admitting local authority representation.

Would the non. Gentleman agree that a large number of independent boarding schools have very readily provided places?

Yes, I do most certainly. A great many have done that, and I gratefully admit it.