§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the size of the educational maintenance allowance budget is taken into account when setting the rate support grant.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Government's expenditure plans, embodied in the annual rate support grant settlement, assume a level of expenditure nationally on pupil and student support: this includes expenditure on educational maintenance allowances. It is, however, for each local authority to determine its own pattern of expenditure in the light of local needs and circumstances.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost at the latest available date of educational maintenance allowances.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMaintenance allowances to pupils over 16 in England under section 81 of the Education Act 1944 amounted to about £3.3 million in the financial year 1979–80 at outturn prices.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many educational maintenance allowances are currently in payment; and if he will present this information (a) by each relevant local education authority, (b) the numbers of male and female students claiming grants and (c) the average grant per local education authority.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThis information is not available.