§ 31. Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision will be made for adequate maintenance grants for low-income parents of pupils over the age of 15 years when the school-leaving age is raised to 16 years.
§ Mrs. ThatcherMaintenance allowances are payable only for children above compulsory school age. They are intended to encourage and assist parents whose children would be free to leave school and start earning but who want to continue their full-time education. When the school-leaving age is 16, children of 15 will not be free to enter employment and the question of encouraging them to stay at school will not arise.
§ 32. Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special provisions she will make for books and equipment made necessary by the raising of the school-leaving age.
§ Mrs. ThatcherExpenditure of this kind will be taken into account in the relevant rate support grant negotiations.