HC Deb 04 August 1925 vol 187 cc1160-1
29. Mr. GROVES

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many scholarships and maintenance grants for the daughters or sons of agricultural workmen and others were awarded last year in each of the three classes; and whether he can give the occupations of the parents of the children receiving them?

Mr. WOOD

As the reply contains a number of figures I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Colonel DAY

May we have the total number in this case also?

Mr. RENNIE SMITH

Is it the intention of the Government to renew these scholarships in a year's time?

Mr. WOOD

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to defer any statement as to what will happen in a year's time. In regard to the other supplementary questions the total figure given here, but it is only one of the figures, is 152 scholarships in 1924.

Following is the reply:

152 scholarships were awarded in 1924 to the sons and daughters of agricultural workmen and others in England and Wales under Section 3 of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921. The allocation of the awards was as under:

Class I, tenable at University Departments of Agriculture 14
Class II, tenable at University Departments of Agriculture and Agricultural Colleges 14
Class III, for short courses tenable at Farm Institutes and similar Institutions 124
152

The occupations of the parents of the scholarship holders are as follows:

Agricultural workmen 38
Working bailiffs 11
Small holders 37
Working gardeners 6
Other rural occupations, e.g., roadman, wheelwright, harness-maker, haulier, etc. 20

The remaining 40 scholarship holders were themselves bona fide workers in agriculture, and the fathers of 24 of these are deceased.