§ 30. Mr. Deanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will increase the amount of dependant's income which is disregarded in assessing the amount of grant payable to students training to be teachers.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DeanWhile not expecting to receive a particularly favourable reply now that stop-go has been replaced by stop-stop, may I ask the Minister to bear in mind the fact that the f100 disregard for a wife's income has not been increased since 1962? Will he consider this, particularly for mature students, who often find that they have a substantial drop in their income when they become student teachers?
§ Mr. RobertsThe grant arrangements for teacher training students generally are the same as those for all other students in higher education. My right hon. Friend and I appreciate the difficulties of the older student, the married man with family responsibilities, who is living on a grant. However, whereas his previous income was appreciably in excess 859 of the total grants, he may be paid an additional grant of up to £100 a year.