§ Mr. Mulleyasked the Minister of Education if he will investigate the payment by many local education authorities of minor awards of greatly varying value to students in technical colleges, to whose full-time courses the classifications of graduate status under the Burnham Report do not apply; and if he will urge all authorities to pay the rates recommended in his administrative memorandum 502 to all full-time students over the age of 18 attending courses of further education.
§ Sir D. EcclesI already have information about rates of grant paid by local education authorities to students in technical colleges attending the courses to which the hon. Member refers. These courses vary greatly in character and duration, and it would not in my view be appropriate for them all to carry university rates of grant. This is a matter in which I think local education authorities should be allowed discretion.