§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can now state his policy towards the system whereby some parents are able to refuse to contribute towards a student grant.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy Department has asked local education authorities to notify parents direct of the amount of their contribution, and to point out that if the contribution is not paid in full the student may suffer hardship.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he can now say whether the Government intend to do away with the means test for parents of students through which some students receive a lower level of award than others.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerAbolition of the parental contribution system for student awards would cost a substantial amount of money, whether or not tax relief to parents in respect of their student children were withdrawn at the same time. My right hon. Friend sees no early prospect of abolishing it, in the light of priorities for public expenditure.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he can now say whether it is the intention of the Government to implement full cash 285W grants for students in colleges of education.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington and Ellesmere Port (Mr. Bates) on 15th May.—[Vol. 873, c.456.]
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now decided his policy on a system of loans to finance students in higher education.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend has no present plans to introduce a system of loans.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he can now state the intentions of the Government in respect of increasing the level of mandatory awards to students for the academic year 1974–75.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend announced the increased rates in the House on 14th May.—[Vol. 873, c. 1085–6.]