§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will provide a number of fully funded places for the most talented students from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to study dance, drama and music in the United Kingdom on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthUnder the Government's music and ballet scheme help is already being made available to more than 550 talented children at the Royal Ballet school, four specialist music schools in England and, under slightly different arrangements, one in Scotland. Mandatory student awards and student loans are available for full-time first degree and comparable level courses in dance, drama and music. The Government also contribute significant amounts of taxpayers' money towards local authority expenditure on education. Local education authorities may also make discretionary awards for lower level courses. It is, however for each authority to determine its own policies on such support.
Questions about funding students in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.