§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he will consider some relaxation of payment 160W of insurance stamps for mature students at colleges and universities in view of the hardship caused when they return to their former occupation and/or are unable to find work for short periods.
§ Mr. DeanNo. These students are not obliged to pay contributions while undergoing full-time education. Most mature students will have had a substantial period of employment before the course began, and there are already special arrangements for them under which, provided that they had paid or been credited with not less than 104 contributions as employed persons in the three years preceding the course of education, any contributions paid voluntarily at the non-employed rate during the course can give cover for sickness and unemployment benefits.