HC Deb 15 February 1977 vol 926 cc244-6
13. Mr. Bryan Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the extension of educational provision for the 16 to 19-year-olds remains a major priority in her policies.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Yes, to the fullest extent possible within existing resources. I attach particular importance to improving opportunities for those who leave school at 16 and who receive little or no further education or training thereafter.

Mr. Davies

I applaud the initiatives that have already been taken, but what is my right hon. Friend doing to protect the further education sector which provides the majority of courses for this group of students in circumstances where local authorities are clearly looking at their education budgets with aggressive scrutiny?

Mrs. Williams

The position is that in 1975 there was a 20 per cent. increase in the number of students in further education courses. We expect a further increase of 10 per cent. this year. We have reached agreement with the Secretary of State for Social Services with regard to up to three-day courses being accepted while supplementary benefit is still payable. This means that there will be additional students at many of the FE colleges and we have made it clear that we shall meet from other parts of the education budget the additional resource costs involved, which will amount to £35 million.

Mr. Madel

Will the right hon. Lady say whether the Government feel that the age at which young people can go on sponsored training schemes should be lowered from 19 to 16?

Mrs. Williams

I should be happy to consider that. It is not a point that I have considered in the last few days.

Mr. Hooley

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is adequate cooperation between sixth forms in the comprehensive schools and the FE colleges to ensure that scarce teacher manpower, such as in mathematics and science, is properly deployed for this age group?

Mrs. Williams

Perhaps I can first make an additional remark about training centres. They are, of course, not a matter for my Department, and the three-year gap is an element of the training centres of the Training Services Agency which is answerable to the Department of Employment. I very much agree with my hon. Friend and with what is implicit in his question. There is a great deal of parallel provision between sixth forms and the FE colleges for the 16 to 19 group, often in the same subjects. This is one of the areas that we are proposing to discuss in detail with the education authorities and with teacher organisations, because it is one area where undoubtedly some economies can be made without any suffering whatever to educational standards.

Mr. Marten

When were the educational maintenance allowances for this group last raised?

Mrs. Williams

I would need notice of that question, but they are discretionary, and it depends upon each individual local authority. Some do raise the educational maintenance allowance in line with inflation, and some pay less. Although a national scale is suggested, it is not a mandatory scale.