§ Sir T. BENNETTasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Kent Education Authority have reduced from 170 to 60 2404W the number of students to be sent up to a training college this year; and whether, in view of the hardship which this involves to a large number of young persons who, under a contract enforceable by a penalty, have undergone their preliminary training as pupil teachers preparatory to their college career, and seeing that the interests of education will materially suffer from a measure which must result in reducing the supply of teachers in the near future, he can give an assurance that there shall be no further steps taken which are calculated to restrict and discourage recruitment?
§ Mr. FISHERI have no information as to the action referred to by the hon. Member, but I assume from the terms of the question that the Kent Education Authority have this year reduced the number of maintenance allowances which they offer to students proposing to enter a training college. I have no authority to prescribe the number of such maintenance allowances which a local education authority shall provide.