§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether postgraduate students registered for the London external degree will remain eligible for social security benefits; and
Whether it is their intention that part-time postgraduate students should remain eligible for social security benefits.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)The Government's proposals are that, in the light of the new support arrangements available from the 1431WA educational maintenance system, full-time students, including postgraduates, will not generally be eligible for income support, unemployment benefit and housing benefit. Full-time students who are in vulnerable groups, including disabled students and students with dependent children, will retain entitlement to income support and housing benefit.
The benefit entitlement of part-time students, including postgraduate students following part-time courses, will not be affected by these proposals.