HC Deb 20 December 1983 vol 51 cc266-7
17. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much it would cost to provide an allowance for every person in post compulsory non-advanced education in schools and colleges at the rate of £30 per term-time week.

Sir Keith Joseph

About £700 million for England and Wales, assuming that the allowance was restricted to 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education and there were savings on child benefit.

Mr. Bennett

Does the Secretary of State agree that income support for teenagers is completely chaotic and that there should be some rationalisation so that people can remain at school and colleges to benefit from education rather than be forced to go through devices such as the 21-hour rule, which often gives income support but not the best education benefits?

Sir Keith Joseph

I am sure that there could be some tidying up. but it would involve a great deal of extra money. There is no evidence that young people are leaving school to join the YTS solely because there is no allowance for staying on at school.

Mr. Madel

Would it not help if there could be considerable flexibility on the 21-hour rule in relation to certain technical and accredited courses?

Sir Keith Joseph

The 21-hour rule is largely the province of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The Government are anxious that the 21-hour rule should not become a substitute for a student support service. I shall discuss my hon. Friend's point with my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Flannery

Does not the system compel young people who want to stay at school—many of whom show their sincerity by staying, in face of other inducements — to leave school? Was not the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) an attempt to obtain enough money to allow our young people to continue at school as long as they wish and educate them to our greater benefit?

Sir Keith Joseph

I repeat that there is no evidence that the youth training allowance, as opposed to the youth training scheme, has been a factor in moving young people from school to the youth training scheme.