HC Deb 04 June 1965 vol 713 cc280-2W
Mr. Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why no provision is made in the current recommendations on student awards for an equipment and materials allowance for students of optics, architecture, art, domestic science and physical education, on a similar basis to those available to medical, dental and veterinary students.

Mr. Crosland

The new rates of awards I announced on 24th May include for all award-holders an element of £35 a year for books, instruments, stationery and other materials, equivalent to a total provision for these items of £105 over a three-year course and £175 over a five-year course. The special provision for necessary expenditure on instruments by medical, dental and (from 1st September next) veterinary students is additional to these amounts.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the point at which the parental means test becomes operative in respect of student awards has not been adjusted in the current recommendations to allow for the increase in cost of living and the increase in national average wage since the last award in 1962; and what proportion of parents who were not contributing in 1962 at the time of the last assessment were contributing at the time of the reassessment by virtue of the increase in the national average income.

Mr. Crosland

The improved rates of award which I announced on 24th May will increase total public expenditure on student support by £8½ million to about £100 million in 1966–67; and further large increases in public expenditure on awards cannot be justified at present.

I regret that the information requested at the end of the question is not readily available.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he sought the opinions of representatives of local education committees on his recommended increases in student awards; and why he refused requests by the National Union of Students to meet and discuss the matter previous to his announcements.

Mr. Crosland

Awards to students are paid by local education authorities and proposals for increases are therefore the subject of consultations with representatives of the authorities. The request from the National Union of Students for a discussion was received too late to enable me to accede to it without delaying my announcement which was urgently necessary if the new rates of award were to be effective next September. I hope to meet a delegation from the union shortly.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he did not accept the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Committee on Student Awards.

Mr. Crosland

The understanding with the Committee is that their advice is tendered in confidence, and it would not accord with practice to give reasons for accepting or rejecting it.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the composition of the departmental committee which considers vacation awards to students; why the topic was considered to be outside the realm of the Standing Advisory Committee on Student Awards, and why the National Union of Students was not given an opportunity of submitting written and oral evidence to that departmental committee; and whether he advised the National Union of Students of the existence of that committee.

Mr. Crosland

There appears to be a misunderstanding here. Vacation awards were within the terms of reference of the Standing Advisory Committee and increases in the rates of these awards of 22½, per cent. for students in college or lodgings and of 75 per cent. for those at home were included in my announcement of 24th May.