§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any consideration to the possibility of providing financial support for students at the age of 16 years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis is one of many aspects of policy on post-compulsory educational provision which is kept under review. However, the Government have no immediate plans to change the practice of successive previous Governments in regarding young people in non-advanced full-time education as primarily dependent on their parents for financial support until their 19th birthday. Parents receive child benefit in respect of such children, and in addition local education authorities have discretionary powers to pay grants and allowances to those in need.