§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the value of (a) the maximum, and (b) the average unit student grant at constant prices over the past 15 years, taking 1974–75 as the base level.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe information is given below for students on first degree and comparable courses at universities and further education establishments in Great Britain.
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Maximum main rate(1) of maintenance award for students: London Residing away from home Oxford and Cambridge Elsewhere Residing at home Average maintenance award per student(1)(3) College/hostel Lodgings College/hostel Lodgings London Oxbridge Elsewhere £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1960–61 … 634 611 735 577 543 434 (2) 412 Not available 1961–62 … 660 639 732 606 574 470 502 448 Not available 1962–63 … 702 692 723 671 629 503 495 1963–64 … 691 680 711 660 619 495 486 1964–65 … 662 652 682 632 593 474 464 1965–66 … 697 640 518 490 1966–67 … 673 618 500 456 1967–68 … 663 609 493 454 1968–69 … 668 609 491 446 1969–70 … 636 580 467 419 1970–71 … 632 571 459 407 1971–72 … 637 589 473 412 1972–73 … 614 569 454 378 1973–74 … 609 568 457 350 1974–75 … 665 605 475 (estimated) Not available (1) All rates adjusted to September 1974 prices using the retail price index. (2) No maximum main rate was specified. (3) Per student receiving mandatory awards, including minimum award holders.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of university students have received (a) the maximum, and (b) the minimum grant over each of the last 15 years.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe proportion of home undergraduate students in universities in Great Britain in receipt of a mandatory award who received maximum grants is estimated at 21 per cent. in 1972–73, the only year for which the information is available. The corresponding percentage for students with minimum grants—£50—was 8 per cent., and the proportion has remained between 7 and 8 per cent. over the previous 10 years.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of university students receive no grants from central Government or local authorities.
§ Mr. PrenticeIn 1972–73, the latest year for which the information is available,
London Oxford and Cambridge 1964–65 1974–75 1964–65 1974–75 £ £ £ £ Actual difference: Residence of student: College or hostel … … … 15 60 25 0 Lodgings … … … 30 60 45 0 At home … … … 0 0 0 0 Estimated difference at September 1974 prices*: Residence of student: College or hostel … … 30 60 49 0 Lodgings … … … 59 60 89 0 At home … … … 0 0 0 0 * Actual differences for 1964–65 adjusted by the change in the Retail Price Index between September 1964 and September 1974.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average assessed level of parental contributions to student grants in the last available year and 10 years previously at constant prices.
§ Mr. PrenticeIn 1972–73, the latest year for which the information is available, the average assessed parental contribution to maintenance and fees for students, including minimum award holders, on first degree and comparable courses in universities and further education establishments in Great Britain is estimated at £199 compared with £156 in 1962–63, both figures being adjusted to prices at September 1974 using the retail price index.
558Wthe proportions of home students in universities in Great Britain who did not receive grants from central or local government sources are estimated to be 11 per cent. for undergraduates and 33 per cent. for postgraduates, including 6 per cent. of undergraduates and 21 per cent. of postgraduates who received grants from other sources.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the differential at the present in grants given to Oxford and Cambridge and London students and those at Scottish universities at real and constant prices; and what this was 10 years ago.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe maximum undergraduate rates of grant for students in Scottish universities are exceeded by those for students in Oxford, Cambridge and London by the amounts shown in the following table. For postgraduates a differential of £80 was introduced for London students in 1974–75.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reduce the age threshold for a married student to be regarded as independent of his or her parents for grant purposes from 21 to 18 years.
§ Mr. PrenticeI considered the criteria for independent status in the review of student grants for the year 1975–76 which was recently completed, and about which I made a statement on 20th May.—[Vol. 892, c.321–2.] I came to the conclusion that, apart from those who achieve independence by supporting themselves for three years, there should be a single minimum age—25—for independence from parental contributions for all students; but it will no longer be a 559W requirement that they reach that age before the start of the course.