§ 93. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the increased fees being charged by many university colleges; and what action she is taking to ensure that no student ceases to continue at college due to inability to meet these extra costs.
§ Miss HorsbrughAs far as my own awards are concerned, the assistance given to State scholars is in two parts. One part represents the payment of approved tuition, registration and examination fees, and this automatically covers any reasonable increases in those fees. The other part is in the form of a maintenance grant. The standard figures of maintenance on which this is based were revised last year to take account of increased costs. Local education authorities' awards are usually in a similar form to State scholarships. I have urged local authorities to base their maintenance grants on the standard figures used for State scholarships, and 131 out of 146 local education authorities now have schemes of awards based wholly or substantially on the financial principles applied to State scholarships. I have asked those authorities who are not in line to reconsider their arrangements for 1954–55.