§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the differences in full-time educational subsistence grants paid to unmarried mothers as compared with those paid to widows and divorcees with families of comparable size; and if she will explain why these differences exist.
§ Mr. OakesThe grants payable to students under the Local Education Authority Awards Regulations vary according to their individual circumstances. Assuming that their circumstances were otherwise the same, a widowed or divorced student with one or more dependent children who was married before beginning the course would normally receive £350 more than an unmarried parent. The extra amount is intended to help to compensate widowed or divorced students for the change in their financial circumstances which is likely to occur on the death of the spouse or after the termination of the marriage.