§ 28. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many student maintenance grants were reduced or refused altogether because of the means test in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement about future policy on student grants.
§ 37. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now abolish the parents' means test for grants to students; and what 294W estimate he has made of the number of girls deprived of further education because of the parents' means test.
§ Mr. CroslandIt would cost about £18 million to abolish parental contributions in 1965–66. I believe that there are other educational objectives of higher priority.
Under 70 per cent. of the awards to students in first degree and comparable courses were reduced to take account of a parental contribution in 1963–64 compared with about 73 per cent. in 1958–59; figures for intervening years are not available. Under the regulations no award is reduced below £50 per annum.
No estimate can be made of the numbers deterred from undertaking further education by the present provisions.