HC Deb 09 June 1921 vol 142 cc2060-1
92. Sir CHARLES OMAN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any consideration can be made of the case of Captain T. J. Ford, late 2nd Welsh Regiment, who, having applied for a University Education Grant on, 25th June, 1919, was not demobilised till the following December, and came up to Oxford in January, 1921, in the belief that his application would stand, despite of the delay caused by his late demobilisation?

Mr. FISHER

It is one of the published conditions of assistance under the Government scheme for the higher education of ex-service students in the case of applicants demobilised on and after 1st October, 1919, that

  1. (a) applications must be lodged within three months of demobilisation and not later than 30th June, 1920; and also that
  2. (b) the course of higher education must be commenced not later than the beginning of the autumn term, 1920.
Captain T. J. Ford was demobilised in December, 1919. The first intimation received by the Board of his intention to apply for assistance under the scheme was received in December, 1920, and his proposed course at Oxford was stated to com- mence in January, 1921. Neither of the two conditions referred to above was satisfied, and the Board were unable to entertain his application.

Sir J. D. REES

Did not the right hon. Gentleman promise that no more of these applications to educate officers at the universities at the taxpayers' expense would be entertained?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a general question, and does not arise out of the question on the Paper.