§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of postgraduate students reading for the final examinations of the Law Society and the Bar who receive awards from local authorities; what proportion this represents of the total number of such students; and if he will take steps to make such awards mandatory for all United Kingdom students.
§ Mr. BrookeThis year over 6,000 students have taken or are proposing to take the final examinations of the Law Society and the Bar. The extent to which such students are supported by local authority awards is not known. To extend mandatory support to advanced professional and vocational courses in law would represent a commitment to public expenditure which could not be afforded at the present time.