HC Deb 03 December 1912 vol 44 c2085
60. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that failure to pass in the leaving certificate examination in the spring of any year means that the student should he be entering on a course of medical study, requires to postpone his entrance to a Scottish university for at least eighteen months if he desires to avail himself of the Carnegie Trust's fee grant; and whether, in those circumstances, he will arrange for an autumn examination for the leaving certificate in order to meet the difficulty?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

My hon. Friend is mistaken in his calculation that a delay of eighteen months is caused. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on Tuesday last dealing with the last part of the question, which was in the negative.

Mr. HOGGE

What delay is caused then?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

If an examination is held annually it cannot cause a delay of eighteen months. If the student passes his entrance examination there need be no material delay at all.

Mr. HOGGE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the examination is held in March and the subsequent examination in March and the University Session begins in October, and therefore there must be eighteen months delay?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I cannot agree with the calculation. If the student passes in March he cannot enter until November, and if he does not pass until the following March the delay is only for a year.