§ 16. Mr. Fitchasked the Minister of Education if he will make grants to those students who are recommended, as part of their training, to go abroad during their vacation.
§ Sir D. EcclesState Scholars reading for degrees in modern langauges are eligible for additional grant if they are required by the university to attend a course in the country of the main language which they are studying. Local education authorities generally extend the same arrangements to their own university award holders.
§ Mr. FitchIs the Minister aware that at certain teacher training colleges students taking a foreign language have been informed that they must spend two periods abroad at their own expense if they wish to obtain the advanced course certificate?
§ Sir D. EcclesI am not aware of that. I know that if students in teacher training colleges are chosen to take a course abroad, when French is their main subject, a grant is made.
§ 17. Mr. Fitchasked the Minister of Education if he will raise the personal grants made to students during their period at college in view of the proposed increase in their National Insurance contributions.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. National Insurance contributions are not compulsory for students, and grants were never intended to cover them. Arrangements already exist for students if they wish to make up, during their first six years in employment, contributions which they did not pay while at college.