XN000022-1972-08-16 — Page 3

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Wednesday, August 16, 1972

"Meanwhile it would, against the background I have explained, be

undesirable for fees to diverge sharply. Moreover, their temporary divergence could not easily be justified when (as the Select Committee itself recognised) the present costs of the two groups of schools are difficult, if not quite

impossible, to compare with precision."

In the circumstances, Mr. Kidd said, "the fairest interim arrangement possible is to calculate fees by taking the levels mentioned by the Select Committee and producing average figures, weighted to reflect the number of places at Government and Foundation schools respectively."

After announcing the revised school fees for 1973, the Acting Colonial Secretary said details of the grants payable during next year to the English

"These will enable it to Schools Foundation had been agreed with all concerned.

operate viably," he added.

Commenting on the revised school fees, the Government spokesman said:

"There is no doubt that any marked difference in fees would be inequitable. Whether a child attends a Government or a Foundation school is at present largely

determined by where the parents happen to live."

The spokesman concluded by saying remission arrangements in respect of these school fees would, for the time being, remain unchanged and needy

parents would not therefore suffer as a result of these increases.

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