HC Deb 24 March 1960 vol 620 cc655-6
17. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that students who will be admitted to Leeds Day Training College next September for a two-year course will be eligible to receive dependants' grants, whereas students admitted last September for a course of similar duration are not eligible to receive grants for their dependants; and what steps he proposes to take to remove this anomaly.

Sir D. Eccles

Students admitted to this college last September are following the normal two-year course and receive the usual personal grants. The dependants' grants to be paid next September are a special provision for mature students capable of taking shortened courses of two years when the normal course will have been extended to three years.

Mr. Montgomery

Is the Minister aware that some people who were admitted last September have dependants and that if they had deferred their entry to this college for twelve months they would have been much better off financially? Does he realise that this state of affairs will cause a great deal of resentment among students who will be working together, side by side, in the college? Will he look at the matter again in order to rectify these anomalies?

Sir D. Eccles

I think that my hon. Friend has made a point. I will look at it in the light of the Anderson Committee's Report, which I expect very soon.

Mrs. White

Why does the right hon. Gentleman have to await the Anderson Committee's Report on this matter? This is not a question of university grants in general, on which that Committee will report. It is an urgent matter concerning his own short-term campaign for more teachers. Can he not settle this restrictive matter on his own authority without having to await the Anderson Committee's Report?

Sir D. Eccles

It will not make any difference to the supply of teachers if I do what my hon. Friend wants, because he is referring to students who are already at college.

Mrs. White

It applies equally, does it not, to students in similar circumstances to those mentioned by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Montgomery), and who wish to take a regular course, not the shortened, mature student course?

Sir D. Eccles

I think not. If they enter next September they will get a grant.