HC Deb 25 January 1983 vol 35 cc777-8
13. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which other European Community countries operate a system which includes parental contributions for adult students maintenance in higher education.

Mr. Waldegrave

The latest available information shows that all European Community countries include a parental means test within their student support system.

Mr. Marlow

Although that may be so, will my hon. Friend tell the House whether such a test is as far-reaching as that which applies in the United Kingdom? Will he also tell the House—I know what difficulty he has—how much longer the present iniquitous system will endure, whereby the children of the rich and poor effectively receive full support at university whereas those in between, who are largely the children of Conservative supporters, do not?

Mr. Waldegrave

We are the only European country that has a non-means-tested element in our student support system—the minimum award. In that sense, our system is less means-tested than others. I am fully aware of the problem that my hon. Friend raised, but the £150 million or so that would be involved in abolishing the parental contribution is beyond the immediate capacity of the Government to provide.

Mr. Spriggs

Is the Minister aware that students from the St. Helens constituency who attend university suffer in two ways? First, is he aware that many of them suffer from a complete lack of parental contribution because of high unemployment in that constituency? Secondly, is he aware that when students do not receive that contribution, they are forced to find part-time work? How can they hope to make a success of higher education if they have that problem on their minds all the time?

Mr. Waldegrave

Finding part-time or full-time work during vacations has always been a part of student life. I do not want to argue against that. I am well aware of the problems that the hon. Gentleman has raised, but I must repeat that the student award settlement that we have agreed is the best that is possible in the circumstances.

Mr. George Cunningham

Is it not unprecedented for the Government to promulgate a statutory instrument on this subject that is legally defective, to discover, through no effort on their part, that it is legally defective and to refuse to inform local education authorities that it is legally defective three months after discovering the fact? When will the Minister do something about that?

Mr. Waldegrave

I am not sure that that subject is within the scope of this question. However, guidance to local authorities on the point that the hon. Gentleman has raised will be issued shortly.