HC Deb 26 March 1930 vol 237 cc420-2
57 and 58. Mr. STEPHEN

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) the number of cases for educational grant which came before the Special Grants Committee last year for consideration; the number of cases disallowed; and the number of times the committee met to deal with those particular cases;

(2) why no record is kept by the Special Grants Committee of applications from Glasgow or other cities for educational grants; and whether there is any member of this committee who is familiar with Scottish standards of life and education to advise his or her fellow members in cases of applications from Glasgow for grants for educational purposes?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. F. O. Roberts)

About 1,850 fresh applications for educational grants were received by the Special Grants Committee during last year. In about 850 of these grants of one kind or another were made, the remainder being found ineligible for assistance on various grounds. The records of the committee are not (any more than are those of the Ministry) kept on a geographical basis, and it would, I fear, be impossible to record separately the number of cases from Glasgow or other towns without considerable additional labour and expense. One member of the Special Grants Committee is a member of a Scottish War Pensions Committee. Grants for educational purposes are, however, dealt with mainly by delegation to a sub-committee of the main committee and its officers. This sub-committee, whose members have both technical and practical experience of education, held 22 meetings in the course of the year.

Mr. STEPHEN

Is the Minister of Pensions aware that there is no representative of the working-classes on this Committee, and as these decisions may adversely affect the interests of working-class children will he consider appointing someone specifically to represent the working-classes?

Mr. ROBERTS

I understand that this Committee is representative of all classes.

Mr. STEPHEN

Will the Minister of Pensions tell me the names of those representing the working-classes on this Committee?

Mr. ROBERTS

I have not the names of the Committee in front of me, but I shall be glad to get the list and show it to my hon. Friend.

Mr. STEPHEN

Is my hon. Friend aware that I have already asked for the names of the working-class representatives on this committee and that he informed me that there is no specific working-class representative on it. In view of the fact that it is the applications of working-class children which are being refused, will he not see his way to appoint someone to see that their interests are adequately represented?

Mr. ROBERTS

I will see whether their interests are adequately represented or not.