§ Mr. Gerry Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she now proposes to introduce from September 1979 pilot schemes of general means-tested educational maintenance allowances for 16 to 18-year-olds continuing their full-time education; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Oakes:The Education Bill which my right hon. Friend introduced in the House on 22nd November contains a provision for the selective"introduction"of improved arrangements for the financial support of 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education. It is the Government's intention to use it to establish a pilot programme of means-tested awards in certain areas from September 1979. The question of which areas will participate and the arrangements for monitoring the pilot programme are still under consideration.