To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding discretionary grants made by local authorities to trainee lawyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received over the last six months on the subject of discretionary grants to law students seeking to qualify in one of the two branches of the legal profession; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject. They have been made by the Law Society, the College of Law and the Trainee Solicitors Group, among others. We have also received correspondence and parliamentary questions from several hon. Members on the training of lawyers.