§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now received and considered the memorandum sent to him by the National Union of Students on the subject of student grants; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have received the memorandum from the National Union of Students and have arranged to discuss it with them on 2nd April, but I have thought it fair to warn them that at present I see no early possibility of making changes in the grant arrangements that would involve increased expenditure.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local authorities which are refusing grants to students taking Higher National Diploma courses; and if he will send a circular advising local authorities to continue giving grants to students taking these courses.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsAwards for these courses are made at the discretion of local education authorities: I do not know which authorities refuse to exercise their discretion.
Advice to local education authorities about awards for these and similar courses is contained in Department Circular 4/66. A copy of the relevant paragraph is printed below:
There are a number of courses normally taken by students of 18 or over which have not yet been considered for designation or which are in most respects similar to designated courses but for some particular reason, such as entry standard or length of course, do not qualify for designation, and, are, therefore, at the discretion of authorities. The Secretary of State wishes to emphasise that it is open to 230W authorities to make grants for such courses at the standard rates for designated courses, and he hopes that as a rule they will feel justified in doing so.