§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the net cost of providing educational maintenance allowances for all who continue in full-time education after the age of 16 years, at a comparable level to the income obtained by those over the age of 16 years who are not at places of education
§ Mr. OakesPrecise figures are not available. However, it is estimated that to offer non-means-tested awards to all 16- to 19-year-olds in full-time education would involve net additional costs of the order of £500 million to £1,000 million a year, if paid at rates corresponding to 667W supplementary benefit or Manpower Services Commission allowances, and substantially more if paid at rates matching 16 to 19 earnings.