HC Deb 03 July 1947 vol 439 cc1484-5
17. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Minister of Education on what date the Further Education Training Scheme is due for termination; whether all persons serving or liable to serve before 1st January, 1949, will be eligible for grants; or on what grounds is a differentiation to be made between those called up in 1947 and those called up in 1948

Mr. Tomlinson

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 12th June. Having regard to the objects of the scheme, and the other forms of assistance which have recently been extended, it was not considered justifiable to continue the scheme under the present conditions of call-up. The 30th September was fixed in order to give reasonable notice and to suit, so far as possible, the convenience of students.

Mr. Lindsay

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that those men who are called up after September this year have some sort of priority when they return; and, further, is he aware that two-thirds of the students in this country are utterly dependent on their parents' income, even with the welcome advantages which have already been provided for entries to universities?

Mr. Tomlinson

I could not go so far as to give a complete assurance to the hon. Gentleman's request in the first part of his supplementary question, but I would point out that at present, and for some time to come, 90 per cent. of the students who are accepted in the universities are ex-Service men, and I think that those ex-Service men in 1949 can rest assured that they will get a square deal.

Miss Herbison

Is my right hon. Friend, considering, on the termination of the present scheme, some other scheme which will give similar advantages to students of this type?

Mr. Tomlinson

Some little time ago I introduced a scheme to supplement the places which were being provided by means of State scholarships.