'Yes' to assisted places

Public support is rising for the use of state cash to fund places at independent schools, even among Labour supporters, according to a survey.

The survey, carried out by MORI for the Independent Schools Council, found that 64 per cent of people - up from 59 per cent in 1997 - backed the council's plans to widen access to independent schools.

The ISC proposed that government should meet the bulk of school fees for children from low-income families - up to the cost of education in a state school - and that independent schools themselves should make up the difference.

Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 62 per cent who were Labour supporters also backed the plan.