§ 2. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Defence whether he will include technical education other than secondary education for qualification for the annual education allowance, in view of the Government policy to encourage technical education; and what the cost of such an extension would be.
§ Mr. BirchI have been asked to reply.
The suggestion put forward in my hon. Friend's Question was examined when the scheme for education allowances was drawn up. The conclusion reached was that the considerations which justified the introduction of allowances for children receiving secondary education did not apply to further education. My right hon. and learned Friend sees no reason to dissent from that conclusion.
I cannot give any useful estimate of the cost of such an extension of the present scheme.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltWould not my right hon. Friend agree that it is the policy of the Government to encourage technical education and the more important type of education is that which goes on after secondary education rather than during that time? Would he not therefore reconsider this point, because it is quite idiotic to say that we should encourage people to take technical education so long as they do not get too good at it?
§ Mr. BirchI entirely agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of technical education, but what is suggested in this Question is that the children of members of the Services should be put in an advantageous position in relation to other children in this matter.
§ Mr. EdeIs not the proper phrase to use something which implies that they are entitled to this grant for the whole time they are undergoing full-time education?