§ 2. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that widows' pensions, and separated wives' allowances, are taken into account when assessing grants payable to mature students in teacher training colleges, that married women receive £290 per annum without means test and that single women with family responsibilities receive no allowances in respect of aged parents; and if he will take 1431 steps to remove these anomalies and so aid teacher recruitment.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mr. Edward Redhead)In all these cases the personal incomes of students and their dependants are taken into account when assessing grant. The only exceptional arrangement is that for married women their husband's income is ignored but, if they have an income of their own, they do not necessarily receive a grant as high as £295. My right hon. Friend recently reviewed the grants for widows and introduced an option which benefits many with dependent children. Single women are eligible to receive grants in respect of their aged parents, but this is dependent on the parents' income. I do not believe that there are serious anomalies here which impede teacher recruitment.
§ Mrs. ShortDoes my hon. Friend not agree that it is a poor position whereby a married woman without an income of her own can receive a larger grant than widows or single women with family responsibilities? If I send him details of cases to indicate this, would he agree to look at this matter again?
§ Mr. RedheadI would certainly be prepared to look at any individual cases where my hon. Friend feels that there is a grievance.