§ 15. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the level of student grants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenMy right hon. Friend has received about 300 letters about his intention, subject to parliamentary approval, to increase student grants by about 2 per cent. We consider that this level of grant strikes a fair balance between meeting students' costs and the total expenditure which tax and ratepayers can reasonably be asked to contribute.
§ Mr. BennettDoes the Minister accept from earlier exchanges that there is growing anxiety in the House about the plight of students? Is it not time that the Government restarted the inquiry into student grants that was set up last year, but then abandoned in such a cowardly way in August? Is it not time that that review was published, so that the country can know the strength of the students' claims for decent support and the complete inadequecy of the 2 per cent. offer?
§ Mr. WaldenThe Government have made it clear several times that they have weighed the pros and cons of student loans and have decided, for the present, against them. Without the keystone of a consultative document, it is impossible to construct the arch.