§ 3. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the financial hardship suffered by many students of dental surgery on account of the obligation to buy expensive instruments at the beginning of clinical training and the fact that many local authorities give little or no assistance to dental students to meet this obligation; and if he will take steps to introduce a uniform system of grants and loans to enable dental students to carry on their training without financial anxiety.
§ Sir D. EcclesI will consider this problem in the light of any advice I may receive from the Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Colin Anderson.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the country urgently needs more students of dental surgery? Although there is extraordinary variation of practice among local authorities, very many of them are not making any grant or loan at all to assist dental students with the exceptional expenditures they have to incur. Will he press the local authorities particularly on this point?
§ Sir D. EcclesI understand that evidence about this has been tendered to the Anderson Committee. I also understand that the majority of local authorities are following a practice in their awards to dental students similar to the practice in regard to State scholarships—that is, up to £15.