§ 53. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a detailed statement on the grants and allowances available to child-care officers under training; to what extent they are subject to a means test; and why there are frequently delays of several months in making payments to students.
§ 7. Mr. BrookeThe details are given below. In the past there were delays in the payment of the travelling expenses178W of child care officer students, but payments now are up to date, and will so continue.
GRANTS AND ALLOWANCES PAYABLE TO CHILD CARE OFFICER STUDENTS (Based upon the Minister of Education's University and Other Awards Regulations, 1962) 1. Standard grant for maintenance £ Living in lodgings 300 a year Living at home 240 a year (These amounts include a contribution of £30 towards maintenance in vacation, and sums of £10 for travelling expenses and £30 for books. Higher allowances are payable to students attending child care courses in London and Oxford.) 2. Additional payments £ (a) For each week of training in excess of thirty 5 (living in lodgings) 2 (living at home) (b) Additional expenditure incurred during practical training Up to £1 a day 3. Dependants' allowances £ (a) Spouse or other adult dependant 175 a year (b) First dependent child 60 a year (c) Second dependent child 40 a year (d) Each further dependent child 35 a year 4. Two homes allowance £ Maintaining a home at a place other than the place of training 55 a year 5. Older students allowance £15 for each year of age by which the student exceeds 25, providing his average gross yearly income during the preceding three years exceeded his grant entitlement by 25 per cent. 75 (maximum) 6. Tuition fees and other dues payable by students are met in appropriate cases.
Travelling expenses
An advance payment of £10 is included in the first instalment of grant; all approved expenditure in excess of this is reimbursed on submission of claims.
8. Students who need financial help towards maintenance during vacations may claim an additional allowance of not more than £2 or £5 a week, according to their particular circumstances.
179W9. The amount of grant payable to a student may be reduced if he has a private income of over a certain amount, and a student entering training before he has reached the age of 25 is liable to have his grant reduced if his parents' income is above a certain level. All students receive, however a minimum grant of £50 a year.
10. Parental contributions are assessed as follows:
When parental contribution is waived
The parental contribution is waived for students who, before the course begins, either (i) are aged 25 or over, (ii) have regularly supported themselves out of their earnings for three years (including half of any period of national service) or (iii) are women aged 21 or over and married before the offer of training was made.
Parental contribution
In all other cases the parental contribution is assessed as follows:
(a) The gross income taken as the starting point is the income of the student's actual or legally adoptive parents which is assessable to tax, except that the gross amounts are taken where dividends, interest, annuities, etc., are paid free of tax.
In addition to the allowances against gross income shown below, deductions of other kinds agreed for tax purposes (e.g. for expenses) are allowed in the assessment of the parental contribution, except that income tax personal allowances, earned income allowances and national insurance contributions are not allowed.
The income used in the assessment is normally that for the previous financial year, but current income may be used if it is substantially lower. Special arrangements apply regarding the income of parents employed abroad.
(b) The following allowances are made against gross income:
- (i) Adult dependants and dependent children (other than the student)—up to £200 per dependant, after taking into account any income of the dependant.
- (ii) Ground rent and mortgage interest on the house which is occupied and all other interest payments allowed for tax purposes.
- (iii) Superannuation contributions (but not national insurance contributions) and life insurance premiums up to a maximum of 10 per cent. of gross income.
- (iv) Domestic assistance—an allowance may be made where parents are at work or incapacitated.
- (v) Educational expenses of dependent children (other than the student)—in addition to allowances at (i) above, further allowances may be made towards the cost to parents of school fees and expenses (up to £200 per child) and of further education and professional training (up to £350 per child).
- (vi) Payments made under covenant—the gross annual amounts covenanted are
180 allowed except that the allowance for covenants to individuals other than the student is limited to £200, and no allowance is made for covenanted payments by the parents to the student (neither does the amount received by the student count as his personal income). (c) The gross income, reduced by the allowances, described above, is known as "Balance of Income", and the parental contribution applicable to a given balance of income is shown in the following table:
Balance of Income Parental Contribution Balance of Income Parental Contribution £ £ £ £ 600–699 Nil 1,400 64 700 8 1,410 65 713 9 1,420 66 725 10 1,430 67 738 11 1,440 68 750 12 1,450 69 765 13 1,460 70 775 14 1,470 71 788 15 1,480 72 800 16 1,490 73 813 17 1,500 74 825 18 1,600 84 838 19 1,700 94 850 20 1,800 104 863 21 1,900 114 875 22 2,000 124 888 23 2,500 174 900 24 3,000 224 1,000 32 3,500 274 1,100 40 4,000 324 1,200 48 4,500 374 1,300 56 5,000 424 The contribution between £700 and £1,400 increases at the rate of £8 per £100 of balance of income. Points at which the contribution changes are the same as those shown between £700 and £800 or £800 and £900. The contribution for all balances of income above £1,400 increases at the rate of £10 per £100 of balance of income. Points at which the contribution changes are the same as those shown between £1,400 and £1,500.
§ Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of child-care officers under training is composed of post-graduate students; and if he will give consideration to putting their grants and allowances on the same basis as other post-graduate students.
§ Mr. BrookeApproximately 38 per cent. of the students at present on child care officer courses began training shortly after taking a degree or other university qualification. Their grants and allowances are subject to the same 181W conditions as those of other students taking professional training following a degree course.