Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewingasked the Minister of Education the regulations laid down for ascertaining parents' means before they are awarded an educational grant from public funds; and if she will make a statement upon the case submitted to her by the hon. Member for Hendon, North.
§ Miss HorsbrughIn the case of grants made by my Department to holders of State scholarships, the contributions which parents are required to make towards the cost of a student's term time maintenance are assessed with reference to an income scale. This scale runs from£450 per annum, below which figure no contribution is expected from the parents, to£2,200 per annum, above which figure the parents are expected to pay the full cost of maintenance and fees. Parents may, in addition, claim grants towards a student's maintenance in vacation, and in that case they are also required to satisfy my Department that they have no substantial capital resources at their disposal. It is open to local education authorities to follow my practice in this matter, though it is not obligatory upon them to do so.