§ 91 and 92. Mr. Hoggasked the Minister of Education (1) what he proposes to do about the case of Mr. A. Humphries of 46, Town Furze, Headington, Oxford, who, as a result of asking for an increase of educational grant, owing to the fact that his wife was pregnant, has had deductions amounting to£100 made from his current payments: and whether he will give some undertaking that similar conduct will not be pursued by his Ministry;
(2) why no notice was taken of a letter dated November, 1946, by Mr. A. Humphries of 46, Town Furze, Heading-ton, Oxford, informing the Ministry, in accordance with the terms of the educational grant, that his wife had started work, and why it is now proposed to penalise Mr. Humphries as a result of the negligence of the Ministry in taking no notice of this letter.
§ Mr. HardmanThe sum which has actually been deducted is£46, representing an overpayment of£26 in the session 1946–47, and£20 in the current session. In view of the hardship which may be caused by making the whole deduction from one instalment my right hon. Friend is now arranging to make a further payment of£30 to Mr. Humphries at once and to recover this amount from future instalments. I greatly regret my Department's failure to take note of the information supplied in 1946, which was due in the main to the very heavy pressure of applications at that time from men and women coming out. of the Forces. I hope80W that recent improvements in the administration of the scheme will avoid any repetition.