HC Deb 04 June 1991 vol 192 cc219-20W
Mr. Bill Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of any changes in students' allowances for session 1991–92.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

I am publishing today the main rates of allowances payable under the postgraduate students' allowances scheme for vocational postgraduate courses which do not attract student loans, together with the rates of various supplementary allowances payable to both undergraduate and vocational postgraduate award holders. The main rates of maintenance allowance for undergraduates will remain frozen at their 1990–91 cash levels following the introduction of student loans.

Details of the new rates have been placed in the Library. The increases in these rates are broadly in line with the 6 per cent. increase in the overall student maintenance provision announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science.

In addition, there are two significant changes to the terms of the students' allowances scheme with effect from session 1991–92. These are:

  1. (i) Eligible students undertaking full-time courses leading to the award of a Higher National Certificate, and certain analogous courses, will be offered assistance under the Scheme; and
  2. (ii) Eligible students who have successfully completed a Higher National Diploma, or any comparable 2-year course, may qualify for assistance from year two of a degree course, irrespective of the subject being studied.