§ 47. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what number of students lost their mature students grant as a result of the change in qualifying conditions in autumn 1968; and what was the total saving as a result of these changes;
(2) if he will circulate local authorities advising them not to take from mature students, whose grants have been withdrawn, retrospective refunds of grants already paid; and if he will take steps to pay compensation to these students to offset their loss of grant.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThis change was not retrospective, but the grants of some students beginning a course in Autumn, 1968, which had been assessed under the old system, were revised from 1st September. No entitlement to grant has been withdrawn and no question of compensation arises. As a result of the 1968 review of student awards, mature students as a group received substantial increases in grant.