§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list all the benefits in cash or in kind for which her Department is wholly or partly responsible which are subject to a means test, the estimated number of people entitled to them, and the number of people who have claimed their entitlement.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe benefits are as follows:
Information on the first three benefits, which are given at the discretion of local education authorities, is not available.
- School uniform grants.
- Assistance with tuition and boarding fees (where payable).
- Maintenance allowances.
- Remission of charges for school meals.
- Remission of direct grant school tuition fees.
- Awards to students.
In May 1971 763,000 pupils attending maintained schools in England and Wales received free school meals. It is estimated that these represented between 80 per cent. and 85 per cent. of the numbers eligible.
The parents of nearly 11,000 day residuary pupils at direct grant schools receive some remission of tuition fees under the current income scale. It is probable that all parents receive the remission to which they are entitled.
About 300,000 students in colleges and universities receive awards, some of which are on a selective basis. The numbers not exercising their entitlement have not been identified but are known to be small.