§ 31. Mr. Hubbardasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the decision of the Fife education authority to reduce maintenance allowances to students living away from home is responsible for great hardship, and many students will be unable to continue their studies; and if he proposes taking any steps to remedy this matter.
§ Miss HerbisonI am aware that Fife education authority, in assessing, awards to students living away from home, have reduced the amount allowed for maintenance, but as this has been done in the exercise of discretion allowed by the Bursaries Regulations, I have no power to intervene.
§ Mr. HubbardIs my hon. Friend aware that this reduction is limiting this type of education to people who can 1563 afford it, and will she have consultation with the Fife education authority with a view to removing this anomaly?
§ Miss HerbisonI am afraid that I cannot agree with my hon. Friend that this is going to limit the type of person who can take this type of education. Fife education authority at the present time is giving a little more than the minimum suggested by the Secretary of State in the Regulations.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my hon. Friend aware that in my Division there is an example of a girl in danger of having to terminate her studies because of this reduction in her scholarship allowance?
§ Mr. HubbardIs my hon. Friend not aware that students had to estimate whether they could afford this type of education, based on what the Fife education committee told them would be available before they undertook this course of study; and now, having studied for a year or two, many of them find that they are unable to keep it up unless something is done to assist them?
§ Miss HerbisonThe Secretary of State has no power to intervene. I should be interested, from my experience as a student and as a teacher, to find that there are any cases at all where a student has had to give up because of the action of this authority.