asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated saving to public funds of his decision to narrow the scope of the Teachers Special Recruitment Scheme.

This decision was not taken with particular reference to financial considerations and any savings will vary with the extent to which intending teachers no longer eligible for assistance under the scheme obtain help from the other public sources, that is to say, from my Department under the Students' Allowances Scheme or from education authorities under the Bursaries Regulations.