§ 60. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has completed his inquiries into the insurance position of research students; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes. I have been fully into this question, and I have come to the conclusion that research students holding post-graduate awards made for training in research methods or for studying under supervision for such higher degrees as Ph.D. should normally be treated as in full-time education, and excepted, if they so wish, from the payment of contributions. I have made formal decisions under the Act in one or two cases, which will be published and will constitute precedents for future guidance.
It will of course be appreciated that a student who so elects deprives himself of advantages under the National Insurance scheme.