HC Deb 10 December 1948 vol 459 cc88-90W
Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Minister of Education how many students undergoing training as teachers under the Emergency Training Scheme have been sent down or otherwise rejected as unsuitable during their last term; what is the total value of the residual portion of maintenance grants that has been recovered; and, in view of the hardship to the individuals concerned, whether he will no longer require these refunds to be made.

Mr. Tomlinson

Separate figures of withdrawals during the final term of training are not available. The total number of withdrawals from all causes since the inception of the Scheme up to the 2nd of this month is 870. The total sum refunded by students in respect of grants overpaid owing to withdrawals could not be ascertained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The grants made to the students are made to enable them to pursue their approved courses of training and I cannot agree that where students have not attended for the full period for which an instalment of their grant has been paid in advance, they should be allowed to retain the balance, except in cases of real hardship. Such cases are dealt with sympathetically on their merits.