§ Mr. Armstrongasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils were in receipt of educa- 268W tional maintenance allowances in the Northern Region and the whole of England and Wales, respectively, at the last count; and what proposals she has for assisting the over-15-year-olds who are now compelled to attend school an extra year.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThe latest information available in my Department relates to January 1970, when the numbers were 3,401 and 20,121 respectively. These allowances are payable only in respect of children who stay on at school beyond the compulsory school age and there are no proposals for widening this category.