§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the delays experienced by students under the Government's Further Education and Training Scheme in the payment of agreed instalments of grant; and if she will take steps to accelerate these payments.
§ Miss WilkinsonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 12th December. I am at present considering what further steps can be taken to accelerate payments.
§ Mr. Sharpasked the Minister of Education when an award under the Further Education and Training Scheme will be made to Mr. J. Andrews, 1, Powell Street, Heckmondwicke, who, after an interview with her Department, submitted full details of his financial circumstances on 2nd November.
§ Miss WilkinsonFull information required for deciding the terms of Mr. Andrews' award was not received in my Department until 3rd December. Particulars of the award and the first instalment of his maintenance allowance will be sent to him within the next day or two,
§ Mr. Pagetasked the Minister of Education why Mr. N. C. Adams, 11, Bowden Road, Northampton, and Mr. K. A. Grey, 47, Hood Street, Northampton, have not yet received any payment of the 409W award granted to them under the Further Education and Training Scheme to enable them to take art teachers' diplomas at the Northampton School of Art, in view of the fact that both have been attending at the school since September
§ Miss WilkinsonMr. Adams' application required a good deal of investigation, as he did not hold the school certificate and had applied for an award for a five years' course leading to the Art Teachers' Diploma. Mr. Grey's application did not reach my Department until 1st October the day after he had begun his course. At that time there were over 11,000 previous applications under consideration. Both students have now been sent the first instalments of their grants