§ 32. Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether in the light of the recommendations contained in the Consultative Committee (Spens) Report on Secondary Education and the suggestion that all post-primary schools should enjoy parity of conditions, the Board is prepared to revise those sections of the new grant regulations which would prevent the payment of maintenance grants to pupils in schools where they have hitherto been paid?
Mr. LindsayNo, Sir. As the hon. Member will recall, the question of the payment of maintenance allowances to children while still under the obligation to attend school was decided by this House in the negative after a full Debate on 12th February, 1936, and I have already stated in replies to questions the reasons why my Noble Friend is not at present in a position to accept the administrative recommendations of the Spens Report.
§ Mr. TomlinsonIs the Minister aware that this right of the education authorities has been admitted by this House and administered out of existence by the Board of Education? Will he see that it is restored, so that the authorities who have been paying maintenance allowances with the approval of his Department may continue to do so?
Mr. LindsayIt will continue as long as the children are not under the obligation to attend school. There is no change of policy whatsoever.