§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the initial cost of books and equipment to students in the first term of the scholastic year, if he will send a circular to local authorities advising them to pay a higher proportion of the annual grant to students in this term and offset this by a reduction in the other terms.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsLocal authorities are already advised to make an advance payment of grant in the first year of a course to those who apply for it. It is open to them to do so for subsequent years of the course, but I have no evidence to suggest that this is necessary.