§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students are currently on placements abroad as an integral part of their first degree courses.
§ Mr. FormanInformation on total numbers of students on placements abroad is not available within the Department. Figures are however available for students studying abroad under the ERASMUS and LINGUA programmes, which by definition require placements abroad to be integrated in the home course. For 1991–92 about 6,500 United Kingdom students undertook periods of study abroad on this basis.
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to ensure that students currently on placements abroad as an integral part of their first degree courses have had their grants adjusted to take account of the devaluation of sterling.
§ Mr. FormanThere are special rates of grant for students studying at overseas institutions for at least one term as a necessary part of their courses. They are fixed for the current academic year by the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 1270—which came into force on 1 September 1992. The rates represent only a contribution towards costs faced abroad, and are not normally revised during the year on account of currency or other fluctuations. My right hon. Friend will review the rates in due course when he makes the new regulations to come into force on 1 September 1993.