asked the Minister of Education if he will state approximately the number of boys now receiving education in public schools recognised by the Headmasters' Conference whose fees are being paid out of public funds or for whom the public schools have granted scholarships or have given special financial assistance.

I regret that this information is not available, and I am writing to the hon. Member.

Will the Minister agree that it is of great public interest to know to what extent proletarian juveniles have infiltrated into these privileged schools?

I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should wait until he receives my letter and then, perhaps, he may care to get in touch with me. There are difficulties in obtaining this information in the form in which he asks for it.

When the hon. Gentleman gives the information, will the special financial assistance include those pupils of direct grant schools whose fees are reduced because of the direct grant?

The hon. Lady has shown by her question exactly how difficult it is to tabulate this information precisely because it has so many ramifications.