§ 17. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on his proposal that dependants' allowances for certain students should henceforth be paid by his Department; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. Edward ShortAbout 100 letters, including 41 from hon. Members. Since these representations were largely based on a misunderstanding of the proposal, I have explained its scope and purpose.
§ Mr. LaneCould the right hon. Gentleman now confirm that, when we come to consider the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which has many excellent provisions in it, the Government will not seek to reinsert the controversial provision which was rejected in another place?
§ Mr. ShortI can give no such undertaking. I am not prepared to allow about nine young couples with babies to suffer because of a decision in the House of Lords. I will also show that this procedure was started by the Conservative Government. One of my precedessors, the right hon. and learned Member far St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) when he was Secretary of State, told the House:
In the review preceding the making of the amending regulations, the possibility of introducing discretionary powers to provide dependants' allowances in circumstances in which such allowances are not at present payable must be considered … ".— [OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd July, 1964; Vol. 699, c. 126.]
§ Sir Ian Orr-EwingOn a point of order. I am delighted to hear a quotation seven years' old, but does this mean that we can all quote from speeches and from HANSARD during Question Time, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It does not mean that.
§ Mr. ShortPerhaps I could summarise it by saying that the proposals in the Bill were started by the Conservative Government by an announcement on 23rd July, 1964.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Long answers mean fewer Questions.