§ 15. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science from what date he proposes to approve the increase in the dependants' allowances for university, training college, and other students in higher education; and by how much.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe rates of allowances to students' dependants and the general value of the level of awards are, determined after taking into account the advice of the Standing Advisory Committee on Grants to Students. This Committee has only recently begun a review of the rates fixed in 1962 and its recommendations will be considered as soon as they are received.
§ Mr. BoydenIs it a fact that the Committee will not be able to make a recommendation in time for the next academic year? If so, this is very serious because it must be agreed that some of these students would not otherwise be brought into the teaching and other professions. Here is a pool of recruitment to teaching which is very much required, namely, mature people with families.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe hon. Gentleman is quite correct in the first half of what he says. There is no desire to delay this matter, but it is for the Standing Advisory Committee to advise how much should be paid to the dependants of students. The current review is concerned with a number of matters, including those determining in what circumstances the dependants of students should qualify for allowances, but the issue of how much is a matter on which we must await the advice of the Standing Advisory Committee, which will be considered as soon as it is received.