§ Mr. SPOORasked the President of the Board of Education what decision has been taken, if any, concerning the amount and conditions of maintenance Grants for secondary school pupils; whether he is prepared to advance or pay to local authorities half the cost of all maintenance Grants which such authorities may decide to pay; whether any Circulars or Regulations have been, or will be, pub- 410W lished on this matter; and whether any other Department than the Board of Education is concerned in dispensing maintenance Grants?
§ Mr. FISHERI am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that the Government have assented to the principle that the State should contribute 50 per cent. of the expenditure of local education authorities upon the provision of maintenance allowances tenable at institutions of higher education under arrangements approved by the Board of Education. It has not, however, been, found possible to make provision for such contribution in this year's Estimates. The question is receiving very active consideration, and I hope to set up a Committee to inquire into the existing provision of maintenance allowances and advise me as to its improvement and extension. So far as I am aware, the only other Government Department besides the Board of Education which makes Grants for maintenance of school children is the Ministry of Pensions, which makes Grants for the maintenance of children of killed and disabled soldiers and sailors and serving soldiers and sailors.