HC Deb 02 December 1986 vol 106 cc759-61
8. Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the past three months on the level of student financial support.

9. Dr. M. S. Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the past three months on the level of student financial support.

11. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the past three months on the level of student financial support.

19. Mr. Stott

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the past three months on the level of student financial support.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. George Walden)

Since the beginning of September my right hon. Friend has received about 40 representations on the level of financial support for students. In addition, a number of letters have been received on issues which fall within the scope of the review of student support, including submissions made in response to invitations to submit evidence to the review.

Mr. Straw

Does the Minister realise that, because of the cuts in the real value of student grants, many students face hardship of a kind that has never been experienced before? If a student loan system was introduced, it would remove access to higher education for many students who come from lower income families. As evidence from other countries clearly suggests that to be the case, why do the Government not abandon that idea altogether?

Mr. Walden

The hon. Gentleman is wrong to suggest that the grant has been cut by the extent often claimed by the NUS, which is 20 per cent. The real figure is closer to 12 per cent. The hon. Gentleman has selectively used evidence about the effect of loans in other countries. However, I will look at that carefully and fairly, because I do not want anything in my review to damage the chances of access to higher education by those from lower income backgrounds. A loan system need not do that.

Mr. Nellist

Why have the Government introduced new student grant regulations requiring mature students to have earned £12,000 in the three years prior to going to college? Will that not block access to education by women who have been bringing up families, by the unemployed and by the low-paid? Surely that will block access to the majority of those seeking mature student grants.

Mr. Walden

Not uncharacteristically, the hon. Gentleman has completely misunderstood the point. The number of mature students has increased by 15 per cent. since 1979, and we are proud of that record. Moreover, the change was introduced partly at the suggestion of the NUS and the local authority associations in order to spread the benefit. The hon. Gentleman clearly misunderstands the whole purpose of the benefit. It is not intended for all students who have reached a certain age, but to compensate those entering higher education for any financial obligations that they have built up.

Mr. George Gardiner

Will my hon. Friend give due weight to the growing feeling among students in favour of a mixed grant-loan system? They believe that it offers emancipation from the present system of parental contributions.

Mr. Walden

A fact often overlooked by commentators on this question is that the only people who do not contribute directly to the cost of student support are the main beneficiaries, the students theselves.

Mr. Marlow

Will my hon. Friend seek to reallocate the available finance for student support so that all students are put on an equal footing, irrespective of whether the parents cough up the full parental contribution.?

Mr. Walden

In the course of the review on student support we shall take all proposals into account, including those of my hon. Friend.

Mr. Freud

Accepting the increase in the number of students in higher education, is the Minister genuinely satisfied that, bearing in mind the needs of the nation and the availability of talent, he is doing enough to get students into higher education?

Mr. Walden

We are doing more than many other previous Governments. The real problem is not student grants, but the quality of education provided in primary schools and upwards. No Government have done more than this one to improve that quality.