During oral questions in the Lords on February 6, a Labour front-bench spokesman condemned the charitable status of independent schools.
Lord Lexden reminded the House that the amount provided by these schools, through means-tested bursaries and other means, to help families greatly exceeds the financial benefits they derive from their charitable status. Total fee assistance in 2012 amounted to almost £600 million. Total tax relief is often quoted at around £100 million, but no exact figure can be calculated.