§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for 1960, 1970 and the latest year for which the information is available what percentage of students was in receipt of the full local authority grant, what percentage received less than half of the full grant and what percentage received only the minimum allowance.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerA special survey for 1972–73 showed that about 20 per cent. of students receiving local education authority full value awards for study at universities and further education establishments received maximum grant. Similar information for other years is not available in my Department. The corresponding proportion of students with mini mum—£50—grant was 5 per cent. in 1961–62, 6 per cent. in 1970–71, and 7 per cent. in 1973–74. No information is available in my Department about the
Level of residual income at which parents became liable for a contribution towards student award* Example of level of parental residual income at which students received a minimum £50 cash award*† Acadamic year Annual amount £ As percentage of average industrial earning per annum‡ Annual amount £ As percentage of average industrial earning per annum‡ 1960–61 … … 525 69 2,294 302 1970–71 … … 900 62 4,930 338 1975–76 … … 2,200 71 9,450 304 * Residual income is gross income for the preceding financial year less deductions allowable for student award assessments. These include allowances for other dependent children, mortgage interest, etc. but not income tax. † Relates to the assessed contribution for the maintenance and average fees less £50 for a student living away from home to study at institutions other than Oxford and Cambridge universities or colleges in London. ‡ Average industrial earnings is the average gross weekly earnings in October—expressed as an annual amount—of full-time manual men aged 21 years or over in manufacturing and certain other ndustries covered by the Department of Employment's regular annual enquiry.