§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Labour whether he will extend to men who served in the Merchant Service during the War the scheme of grants for higher education which is available for ex-members of the naval, military and air forces?
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§ Sir R. HORNEI have recently had occasion to reconsider this matter. The limits of the maintenance and training grants scheme were originally fixed after a full review of all the relevant factors, and it was decided that it was impossible to include members of the Mercantile Marine as a class. I regret that, after the most sympathetic re-examination of the matter, I cannot see my way to recommend a modification in their favour of the previous decision. But I may say that members of the Mercantile Marine who entered into certain agreemnets with the Admiralty and were disabled during their service under such agreements, are already eligible for training under the scheme.