§ Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged 16 years or over are in receipt of grants from local authorities; what rate is currently being paid to them in (a) England and (b) the Northern region; and what information he has as to the figures for the Tyne and Wear metropolitan county council area.
§ Mr. WaldegraveLocal education authorities in England and Wales may make awards to young people taking courses of further education: the level of such awards is at their discretion. In the academic year 1979–80, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of young people aged 16–18 years in receipt of such awards were as follows: 319W
Area Number of Award Holders England 52,857 Northern Region 2,687 Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County Council 967 The average value of all lesser-value discretionary awards in these areas was £194, £224 and £196 respectively but separate figures for 16 to 18-year-olds are not available.
In addition, local education authorities have the power to grant educational maintenance allowances to pupils over compulsory school age who remain at school, but my Department does not collect information on either the number or the rates of these allowances.