Tony Blair has defended the right of the ex-Education Secretary Ruth Kelly to send her child to a private school.
Ex-Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has defended her decision to send her son, who has "substantial learning difficulties", to a private school.
Mrs Kelly, whose three other children are in state schools, has sent the child to a £15,000-a-year school for pupils with learning difficulties.
She said she removed her son from a state school after professional advice recommended he be placed in a school "able to meet his particular needs".
No 10 said the PM "supports absolutely" a parent's right to decide on schools regardless of what their job is.
Mrs Kelly said the local authority accepted the advice, but she had not asked for any help in meeting the cost.
A friend of Mrs Kelly said the decision was taken with the "co-operation" of the local education authority.
She said: "I, like any mother, want to do the right thing for my son."
The issue of using private education has long been a controversial area in the Labour Party.
We should let people make private decisions as parents David CameronConservative leader
The PM's official spokesman declined to talk specifically about Mrs Kelly's child.
He said the PM believed there should be a "mix of provision" of state and private schooling.
He denied there was a policy of closing special needs schools, adding: "The rate of closure has slowed down under this government."
Current Education Secretary Alan Johnson earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he did not know enough about the case to comment in detail on it.
But he said: "At the heart of this there's a child with educational needs... so it's a very much a personal decision based on a whole set of complex areas."
'Incumbent'
And Labour MP Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons education select committee, said: "Before we start a witch-hunt about a particular Cabinet minister, let us find out what the circumstances are and let's then duly consider that.
"The state system at its best should be able to provide for every kind of special education need - but at the moment in some parts of the country that's not true."
HAVE YOUR SAY I've no problem with them sending their children private - as long as they admit the weaknesses with the state system. Paul McLoughlin, London Send us your comments
London's schools commissioner Tim Brighouse told the same programme that if a local education authority could not provide adequate provision for a child with special needs it could pay to send them private.
However, he said that he thought it "incumbent" on those in the state education sector "to set a personal example".
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson was told by a friend of Mrs Kelly that although the decision was taken with the "full co-operation" of the local authority Mrs Kelly had not wanted the local education authority to pay the private school fees.
'Understand'
Conservative leader David Cameron, whose son attends a state special needs school, said: "We all have to make the decisions as parents first, not as politicians. Ruth Kelly is a parent first and foremost.
"My son is at a state special school, but I totally understand that sometimes things can go wrong and you have got to make the right decision for yourself as a parent."
He added: "Some people will say it's hypocritical - it would be hypocritical if they were in favour of abolishing private education, but Labour I don't think are in favour of abolishing private education - so I think we should let people make private decisions as parents."
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "It's unfair to criticise a parent for choices they make for their individual child.
"Lots of parents find themselves in the same position, with local services unable to provide their children with the support they need.
"Ministers would do well to learn from their colleague's experience. We need a state system that caters for all pupils' needs, however special."
