§ 37. Mr. Boothasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria are used by her in deciding on use of her reserve powers to determine that an education authority has acted unreasonably by failing to provide discretionary grants for full-time education for students over 16 years of age.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNo direction under Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, has been given in connection with discretionary grants.
§ 38. Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to ensure that grants made for the purposes of higher educa- 396W tion should be used for the purpose intended.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeGrants are made to enable students to attend a course. It rests with the academic authorities and the award-making bodies, acting in consultation, to ensure, where necessary, that they are used for this purpose.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue advice to education authorities not to debar mature students from receiving educational grants solely on the grounds of age.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI propose to ask local education authorities to give particularly sympathetic consideration to grant applications—which usually come from older students—in respect of courses at adult residential colleges.