HC Deb 31 March 1960 vol 620 cc1489-90
16. Mrs. White

asked the Minister of Education if he will now make dependants' grants available to teacher-training students taking a full course of two years or three years, as well as to those taking the shortened courses.

Sir D. Eccles

For the present these grants are being confined to mature students whose experience and academic qualifications enable them to take shortened courses.

Mrs. White

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that his final supplementary answer on this matter last week was misleading? Secondly, does not he think that the proposed extension to persons who would take the full course is most desirable if he is to enlist as much suitable teacher-training material as he can find? If he does not take this relatively minor step in this direction, how are we to believe he is in earnest in his recruiting of teacher trainees?

Sir D. Eccles

This is rather a different point from the one I was answering last week. I assure the hon. Lady that I will look at the whole of this when I get the Anderson Report.