§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many full-time Scottish students received supplementary benefit during the summer holidays of 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI regret that information is not available in the form requested but in one week in August 1973 and 1974, when counts were taken, some246W 2,100 and 2,900 students, respectively, were receiving supplementary benefit in Scotland. Figures are not available for 1972.
§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will issue a statement on conditions of the granting of supplementary allowances to students over 16 years of age when they register for work on leaving school or during vacations, in order to clarify the present position.
§ Mr. O'MalleyYoung people over 16 at school, including those on non-advanced courses at colleges of further education, are excluded from claiming supplementary allowance in their own right by Section 9 of the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966. While at school, they are considered to be dependent on their parents both in term time and during vacations.
This exclusion does not extend to students on advanced courses who, if they are unable to find temporary work, can claim supplementary allowance during vacations provided they register for work and are available to take any job offered. In calculating any benefit payable, account is taken of that part of their local education authority grant which is intended for vacation maintenance.
School leavers over 16 who cannot find work can claim supplementary allowance after the date when compulsory school attendance ceases.