§ 116. Mr. Benceasked the Minister of Education if she will take steps to see that young men, holding places in universities, now doing their National Service, will receive grants at the expiration of that service equal to what they would have received had they not been compelled to undertake National Service.
§ Miss HorsbrughWhen students do not wish to obtain deferment of National Service until they have completed their degree courses, it is the general practice for scholarships and grants awarded by my Department and by local education authorities to be suspended until the holders are free to begin their studies.
§ 117. Mr. Mulleyasked the Minister of Education what is the number of students assisted financially by each local education authority in England and Wales in the academic years 1948–49, 1949–50 and 306W 1950–51; what is the average individual grant made by each authority; and how many awards are current in the present academic year.
§ Miss HorsbrughAs the answer consists of a table of figures too voluminous for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I will write to my hon. Friend giving him the information so far as it is already available.
§ Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the wide variation in the policy of Welsh education authorities in the award of maintenance grants to students at college; and whether she will take steps to ensure that no student is prevented from completing his education merely on grounds of insufficiency of grant.
§ Miss HorsbrughI am aware that the rates of grant paid by some Welsh authorities are below those recommended by my Department, but in this matter some measure of discretion necessarily rests with individual local education authorities. While, therefore, I fully support my predecessor's recommendations. I cannot undertake to ensure the result to which the hon. Member refers.