§ 31. Mrs. Leah Manningasked the Minister of Education if she has information showing which local education authorities are demanding from ex-Servicemen the repayment of loans contracted for training as teachers before they entered the Forces.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Hardman)I regret that no information in the general form suggested is available. My right hon. Friend has already made it plain that she hopes all authorities will consider whether they can make a partial or total remission in particular cases.
§ Mrs. ManningIs the Minister aware that there are local education authorities who are taking absolutely no notice whatever of the suggestion made by the Minister, and that ex-Servicemen are having to use the whole of their gratuities to pay off debts which were incurred before the war?
§ Mr. HardmanThe right hon. Lady would like to make it perfectly clear that she is opposed to the granting of any further loans to intending teachers, and local education authorities have been informed to this effect. I am advised, however, that the general remission of postwar loans to intending teachers is of doubtful legal propriety.