§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his recent decision to require certain parents of students in higher education to contribute towards tuition fees.
§ Mr. BrookeParents were last required to contribute towards tuition fees in the academic year 1976–77. The decision to revert to the previous arrangements and to require some parents to contribute towards the designated tuition fee forms part of the Government's policy to introduce a more progressive parental contribution scale and to bring about savings in awards expenditure in order to release resources for other priorities in higher education. All home students, irrespective of their parents' income, will continue to benefit from a significant subsidy (over £2,500 to more than £7,000, depending upon the course) from public funds in respect of the full cost of tuition fees.
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§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State, for Education and Science what representations he has received from the National Union of Students about the number of students who do not receive their full parental contribution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeNon-payment of parental contributions is referred to in the NUS submission on student grants for 1985–86. Evidence from the NUS Survey of undergraduate income and expenditure suggests that non-payment is less widespread than a decade ago.