HC Deb 28 November 2000 vol 357 cc582-3W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the current evaluation programme for arts student award funding. [139529]

Mr. Wicks

[holding answer 23 November 2000]: A three year evaluation programme of the dance and drama awards scheme for performing arts students, which was introduced in September 1999, will be completed by the end of 2002. We expect the report to be published early in 2003 and available through the internet and other sources. We have successfully replaced the lottery which existed in the past, putting talent before postcodes. Instead of paying fees of up to £8,000, award-winners only pay at most £1,050, in line with university students.