HC Deb 20 July 1999 vol 335 cc458-9W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons the software to carry out financial assessments for student grant applications has not been supplied to local education authorities to date. [92090]

Mr. Mudie

The three software companies used by most local education authorities have released the final version of their software to those LEAs. Those authorities are now finalising financial assessments for students who applied by the established deadlines so that they will receive cheques at the start of their courses. The remaining LEAs have their own in-house software provision or manual systems.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to students who do not receive their grant by the first day of term. [92089]

Mr. Mudie

None. We expect all students who have applied to the required timetable to receive cheques on the first day of their course, and are making plans to ensure that even very late applicants receive a payment upon arrival at their universities and colleges.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment under what circumstances students are entitled to apply for compensation in relation to delays in the processing of their applications for a grant. [92093]

Mr. Mudie

There are arrangements for students to make complaints if they are not satisfied with the processing of their applications for student support. However, we expect all students who have applied to the required timetable to receive cheques on the first day of their course, and are making plans to ensure that late applicants also receive a payment upon arrival at their universities and colleges.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities are expected to complete assessments for student grants using the new systems, in accordance with his Department's timetable. [92091]

Mr. Mudie

We expect that all local education authorities will complete processing applications from students who submitted their forms by the required timetable, and that cheques will be issued to those students at the start of their courses.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of local education authorities which will have completed the processing of applications for student grants before the start of the university term. [92092]

Mr. Mudie

The Department is monitoring closely the progress being made by local education authorities. We expect that they will all complete processing applications from students who submitted their forms by the required timetable, and that cheques will be issued to those students at the start of their courses.