§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reconsider his policy on educational maintenance allowances with a view to encouraging increased participation in full-time further education and reducing youth unemployment.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneLocal education authorities have discretion to pay maintenance allowances to pupils over compulsory school age, and to grant awards to students in further education. They are well placed to judge the priority which expenditure of this kind should enjoy. There are many other factors which affect participation in full-time further education, and the local authority associations and ourselves are currently considering them in our review of educational provision for 16 to 19-year-olds.