Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Education how many replies he has now received from local education authorities to Circular 189 on maintenance allowances; if he will give particulars of the various scales of assistance now being operated by authorities, including the highest and the lowest; and if he will now recommend a suitable scale for authorities to adopt.
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§ Mr. TomlinsonI have now received particulars from 112 local education authorities of their intended arrangements for the award of educational maintenance allowances. Authorities' arrangements differ so much in form that it would be impracticable to make a comparison in the form suggested by my hon. Friend. Taking, however, the annual amount payable for children of 16 and over in the case of a family with one child and a gross income of £4 10s. a week, in England the highest award proposed is £45, the lowest £10. In view of the differing local circumstances I have not thought fit to recommend any single scale for universal adoption but I am taking action where I consider that the arrangements proposed are unsatisfactory.