§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the total cost to parents of the parental means test on (a) mandatory awards and (b) all 275W student awards, in 1982–83; and what implications the decision to freeze the parental means test scales has for public expenditure on student awards.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe total assessed contribution from parents for student maintenance awards in the academic year 1982–83 is estimated to be £155 million of which £140 million is in respect of mandatory awards. If the assessed parental contribution scale had been revised in line with assumptions on movements in the earnings index, public expenditure on student awards at the levels set for 1982–83 would have been about £10 million higher.