HC Deb 17 July 1969 vol 787 cc863-4
10. Mr. Bidwell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to make awards to students at long-term residential colleges mandatory upon local education authorities.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

This would require legislation for which the Government have no plans at present.

Mr. Bidwell

Will my hon. Friend undertake to look most closely at representations being made from students at adult colleges in this regard, because the nation is being deprived of very fine university potential educated material?

Mrs. Williams

We greatly admire the work which these colleges do. In 1966 the then Secretary of State for Education and Science asked authorities to give awards at uniform rates to students going to such colleges. We could not go beyond that without a new Act of Parliament.

Sir E. Boyle

Is the hon. Lady aware of cases which have been brought to my notice where the authority has refused an award because of the fear that the student might afterwards qualify to go on to university? Would she not be able to say that it is precisely the purpose of these colleges to provide a second chance and that people should not be deprived of a second chance from which they can particularly benefit?

Mrs. Williams

I completely agree with that. The whole purpose of adult education is to allow people to come back into the education system after perhaps a gap through a lack of opportunity. If the right hon. Gentleman will send such cases to me, I will look into them. We know of only one authority which is taking an unjustifiably restrictive view towards adult education.