§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, bearing in mind the fact that students will not benefit from income tax cuts, he intends to increase student grants to compensate for the increase in value added tax.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. These grants were reviewed earlier this year, as is the normal practice, taking into account the forecast increase in the cost of living. These rates have to be settled early in the year so that local education authorities can assess the grants for individual students in time for payment at the beginning of the autumn term. My right hon. and learned Friend has carefully considered claims by student representatives for a further increase in grant levels for 1979–80, but has concluded that it would not be appropriate to depart from the normal practice of an annual review of student grants which takes into consideration both past and projected changes in the cost of living.