HL Deb 27 July 1989 vol 510 cc1557-8

Lord Nugent of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider assessing Guildford on the same basis as London for the purposes of paying student maintenance grants and discretionary support for students at the University of Surrey.

Viscount Davidson

No, my Lords. The London rate of grant is intended to reflect the exceptional costs incurred by students studying in the capital.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for the courtesy of his Answer, but not for its substance. Is he aware that students at Surrey University in Guildford receive some 23 per cent. less per annum in student grant, amounting to about £500 a year, than their neighbours just up the road, and less than 20 miles away at the Royal Holloway College in Egham? That is completely unfair to the students at Surrey University. As my noble friend has some obligation under the new social security arrangements, will he take action to see that no one is worse off under those arrangements?

Viscount Davidson

Yes, my Lords. We recognise that there are areas of the country outside London where living costs are comparatively high. Guildford is just one such area. However, the London rate is currently only payable to students of the University of London, which includes Royal Holloway and Bedford New College in Egham, and to students at other institutions inside the metropolitan police district. A line must be drawn somewhere, and institutions outside it will always contest the decision.

Guildford and Egham may both be in Surrey, but Guildford is a further 10 miles from central London. However, I shall certainly take on board my noble friend's suggestion and draw it to the attention of the Universities Funding Council. I should add that students suffering particular financial hardship after benefit entitlement is withdrawn will be able to apply to their institution for help from the access funds announced in the White Paper on top-up loans.

Lord Peston

My Lords, as someone who still teaches at London University, I certainly do not wish to say anything which would be of disadvantage to London University students. However, would the Government be willing to look more carefully at the question of the cost of living differences? The noble Viscount is quite right to say that Guildford is not the only anomalous case; but the existence of more than one anomaly does not mean that there are no longer any anomalies.

Therefore, would it not be a good idea to look more carefully at the differences in the cost of living in many places with a view to making the student grant system slightly more rational and effective?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I agree that there is an anomaly here. It is true that the present rules operate to the advantage of certain students of the University of London. However, I can tell the noble Lord that we are currently reviewing those rules but I cannot at the moment encourage hope that the present boundary will be significantly extended.

Lord Harmar-Nicholls

My Lords. is my noble friend aware that if there is an anomaly in Guildford everyone would wish the situation to be looked into? However, is he also aware that if he widens the London boundary for grants he will be opening a very wide door indeed—and not only for students?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I think that my noble friend has underlined the problem.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the last words of his answer to me about the possibility of some help from the new access funds is encouraging? I see that it is possible that the Universities Funding Council can make grants to universities in cases of hardship. Is my noble friend also aware that it is quite clear that there is hardship in this particular case? Further, will my noble friend put his considerable influence with the Universities Funding Council in the scales to ask the council to consider the case of the Surrey University very sympathetically?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, yes. I shall certainly do so. I must say that on the last day of term, so to speak, I am extremely encouraged to know that my noble friend thinks that I have that amount of influence.

The Earl of Halsbury

My Lords, will the noble Viscount include in his considerations Brunel University, of which I am chancellor, in that it is much closer to London than the university in Guildford?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, that is one of the problems.

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