§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the different maintenance awards which have been granted for each academic year since 1979–80; and to what extent the value of student maintenance grants has declined or increased during the same period.
§ Mr. WaldenThe information is as follows:
459W
Maintenance Awards Rates Academic Year Students living at home Student living elsewhere than in London Students living in London £ £ £ 1979–80 985 1,245 1,485 1980–81 1,125 1,430 1,695 1981–82 1,180 1,535 1,825 1982–83 1,225 1,595 1,900 1983–84 1,275 1,660 1,975 1984–85* 1,435 1,775 2,100 1985–86 1,480 1,830 2,165 * From 1984–85 maintenance grant was increased to include a flat rate element for travel.
In real terms, and after adjusting for the changed arrangements in respect of travel costs from 1984–85, the value of the "elsewhere" and "London" rates declined by 12 per cent. and that of the "home" rate by 15 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1985–86.