HC Deb 20 December 1983 vol 51 cc260-1
7. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional number of families is expected to be deemed to be paying parental contributions for higher education in 1984–85 over 1983–84, allowing for an average increase of incomes in line with Government forecasts.

Mr. Brooke

The adjustment of the parental contribution scale in line with the average increase in earnings should ensure that there will be no significant overall increase in the number of families assessed for a contribution in 1984–85, although there will he some additional families simply because of higher student numbers.

Mr. Marlow

Can my hon. Friend please give the House the date by which the party of the family will do away with this pernicious tax on families?

Mr. Brooke

I am aware of the many arguments that can be advanced for the abolition of the parental contribution system, but it is estimated that the cost of abolishing the system in 1984–85 would be about £250 million and resources are simply not available for that at present.

Mr. Rhodes James

I thank my hon. Friend for making the scale of contributions rather more equitable. Is he aware that I, like him in happier times, regret the parental contribution principle, and particularly regret the fact that over the next three years an additional £90 million will be taken from the parents of students? Will he at least consider the possibility of moving the beginning rate from £9,700 to a higher level of income, perhaps £12,000?

Mr. Brooke

Now that we have announced the scales for next year, my hon. Friend's suggestion must be for another year. Of course, we keep the matter permanently under review.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

Does the Minister agree that until his announcement this autumn about student grants there was almost a political consensus that we should treat students as independent? The only problem was how soon we could do that. Is he aware that it seems that the Government have reversed that policy and are saying that students from 18 to 25 should be more and more dependent on their parents? Is that not regrettable?

Mr. Brooke

The Government needed to find savings within the education budget. It was felt that this was the way least damaging to higher education provision.