HC Deb 25 February 1960 vol 618 cc81-2W
98. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the Central Advisory Council for Education's recommendations in 1954 that to operate their recommendations for maintenance allowances an annual expenditure of £3,500,000 would be necessary and of the fact that during 1958–59 only £735,000 was expended, why such a relatively small amount has so far been spent; and what steps he proposes to take to have these recommendations implemented during 1960.

Sir D. Eccles

The estimates made in 1957 by the Working Party on Educational Maintenance Allowances related to 1954–55 income levels and to scales which were not accepted by my predecessor. Under the system of general grant local education authorities are now free to adopt their own arrangements for these allowances.