§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is to be the date of the publication of regulations governing the award, assessment and payment of student grants for the year beginning September 1975; what are the reasons for the delay in publishing them; and if he will take steps to ensure that such regulations are available to local authorities early in subsequent years so that the tasks at local levels are simplified and delays obviated.
§ Mr. MulleyI hope to lay the Local Education Authorities Awards Regulations 1975 before the House at around the end of the month. The delay is due largely to the need for a comprehensive revision of the grant arrangements as a result of the Education Act 1975 and the processes of consultation. Local education authorities have been given full information about the rates and conditions set out in the regulations to enable them to carry on with assessment of grants on a provisional basis.