HC Deb 31 July 1984 vol 65 c182W
Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the resources available to local authorities to make discretionary awards to all students able to benefit from courses on the same terms as mandatory awards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

No. It is for each local education authority to determine expenditure on discretionary awards in the light of the calls on its expenditure and the resources available to it. The cost to ratepayers and taxpayers of extending mandatory awards status to all courses for which discretionary awards are available would be prohibitive.