HC Deb 04 June 1984 vol 61 c65W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of giving mature student status to all those students over 21 years.

Mr. Brooke

A student aged 25 or over, or one who has supported himself from earnings for a period of three years, is defined as independent of his parents for awards purposes. It is estimated that reduction of the age of independence from 25 to 21 in 1984–85 would cost some £60 million per annum.