§ 42. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria she proposes to apply for the selection of areas where the educational maintenance allowance will be provided.
§ Mr. OakesI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to questions by my hon. Friends the Members from Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) and The Wrekin(Mr. Fowler).
§ 43. Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has yet made a decision on which areas will be included in the initial scheme for means-tested educational maintenance allowances.
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§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsNo. Local education authorities wishing to be considered for selection to participate in the pilot scheme were asked to inform my Department by 31 January. A number of replies are still outstanding, and the process of selection will take a little time once the list of volunteer authorities is complete.
§ 49. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to introduce the educational maintenance awards; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Government have announced their intention to introduce a pilot scheme of statutory awards for 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education in selected volunteer local education authority areas from September 1979, subject to the Education Bill
(000s 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 University sector … … … 292 301 308 310 Public sector … … … 223 229 236 250 Total … … … 515 530 544 560 Both the totals and the division between the two sectors are subject to review as further information becomes available.