§ Mr. Bryan DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate of the total outstanding student loan debt in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99 and (e) 1999–2000. [4048]
§ Mr. ForthThe Department's estimates, to the nearest million, for the United Kingdom are:
Financial year-end £ million 1995–96 1,940 1996–97 2,929 1997–98 4,012 1998–99 5,077 The Department does not hold figures for 1999–2000.
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list projected(a) gross student loan and outlay and (b) student loan repayments in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000. [4053]
§ Mr. ForthThe estimated UK figures are:
£ million Financial year 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Loan outlay 1,013.0 1,145.8 1,200.5 Loan repayments (principal and interest) 100.2 154.3 244.7 The Department does not hold figures for 1999–2000.
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cumulative total expenditure on computer systems for the administration of student loans by the Student Loans Company since 1990 in current prices; and what are the constituent parts of this sum. [3924]
§ Mr. ForthThese are matters for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate of the public sector borrowing requirement effect of the 395W introduction of subsidised private sector loans in 1996–97 and each relevant year thereafter. [4047]
§ Mr. ForthThe extent of any overall reduction in public expenditure arising from the introduction of subsidised private sector loans to students will depend on what arrangements are made with the financial institutions and the extent to which students take out loans made under them. The plans announced at the time of the Budget made the following provisional assumptions about net savings.
£ million 1996–97 100 1997–98 200 1998–99 250
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the meetings she or officials in her Department have had with(a) the Student Loans Company, (b) representatives of students and higher education institutions and (c) hon. Members regarding proposed reforms to the provision of student loans indicating the date of each meeting. [3926]
§ Mr. ForthAs I informed the hon. Gentleman during the Second Reading debate on 27 November,Official Report, column 954, I have personally spoken to the chairman and the chief executive of the Student Loans Company about our plans on two occasions. The first was on 16 August and the second on 19 September. My officials met with representatives of the company on
396W
Maintenance grants, loans and allowances £ 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Grants and loans Main grant rates London 2,845 3,399 2,845 3,216 2,845 3,092 2,845 2,993 2,560 2,640 2,340 2,340 Elsewhere 2,265 2,706 2,265 2,560 2,265 2,461 2,265 2,383 2,040 2,103 1,885 1,885 Parental home 1,795 2,144 1,795 2,029 1,795 1,951 1,795 1,889 1,615 1,665 1,530 1,530 Main loan rates (full year) London 460 549 660 746 830 902 940 989 1,375 1,418 1,695 1,695 Elsewhere 420 502 580 656 715 777 800 842 1,150 1,186 1,385 1,385 Parental home 330 394 460 520 570 619 640 673 915 943 1,065 1,065 other allowances Dependant child allowance Aged under 11 320 382 340 384 355 386 370 389 385 397 395 395 Aged 11 to 15 640 765 680 769 710 772 735 773 765 789 785 785 Aged 16 or 17 845 1,009 895 1,012 935 1,016 970 1,021 1,010 1,041 1,035 1,035 Aged 18 or over 1,215 1,451 1,290 1,458 1,350 1,467 1,400 1,473 1,460 1,505 1,495 1,495 Other dependants allowance 1,525 1,822 1,615 1,825 1,690 1,836 1,750 1,841 1,820 1,877 1,865 1,865 7 August, 16 October, 18 October and 20 October for discussions. This is in addition to their usual contacts with the company which provide frequent opportunities for discussion.
My officials have also invited representatives of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the National Union of Students in to discuss our proposals. The meeting with the CVCP was constructive. The NUS has not yet replied.
No meetings were held with hon. Members prior to the First Reading of the Bill.
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the(a) maintenance grant, (b) student loan and (c) allowances available to students aged (i) 26, (ii) 27, (iii) 28, (iv) 29 to 50 and (v) 50 years or over in each year since 1990–91, both in cash prices and current prices. [4323]
§ Mr. ForthData on the main mandatory grant and student loan rates are shown in the following table. The allowances shown are available in addition to the main rates of grant. The amounts shown in the "current" columns have been calculated in 1995–96 prices using the September retail prices indices, excluding mortgage interest payments, at the start of each academic year.
Student loans are not available to those who have attained the age of 50 before the date on which they begin their course. The older student's allowance is available according to the age of the student before the start of his course and provided that he meets the relevant earnings test. It is not available to most students who start their course on or after 1 September 1995.
397W
Maintenance grants, loans and allowances £ 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Cash Current Disabled students allowance Non-medical helper 4,000 4,778 4,240 4,792 4,430 4,814 4,550 4,787 4,730 4,877 4,850 4,850 Specialist equipment 3,000 3,584 3,180 3,594 3,325 3,613 3,420 3,598 3,560 3,671 3,650 3,650 Other 1,000 1,195 1,060 1,198 1,110 1,206 1,140 1,199 1,185 1,222 1,215 1,215 Extra weeks allowance London 63.15 75.44 66.30 74.94 69.30 75.31 71.20 74.92 74.05 76.35 75.90 75.90 Elsewhere 47.30 56.50 49.65 56.12 51.90 56.40 53.30 56.08 55.45 57.17 56.85 56.85 Parental home 33.15 39.60 34.80 39.33 36.40 39.55 37.40 39.35 38.90 40.11 39.85 39.85 Older students allowance Aged 26 250 299 265 300 280 304 290 305 300 309 310 310 Aged 27 455 544 480 543 500 543 515 542 535 552 550 550 Aged 28 675 806 715 808 750 815 770 810 800 825 820 820 Aged 29 or over 880 1,051 935 1,057 980 1,065 1,005 1,057 1,045 1,077 1,070 1,070