§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will examine the basis on which discretionary awards are allocated by the five education and library boards in Northern Ireland; and if he will give an assurance that there is equality of treatment of all applicants for such awards.
§ Mr. ScottThe allocation of discretionary awards is a matter solely for each education and library board to determine and is not one in which the Department of Education for Northern Ireland can intervene unless it is satisfied that a Board has acted unreasonably. I am, however, satisfied that the five boards make every effort to ensure that applicants for discretionary awards are treated equally.