HC Deb 18 December 2001 vol 377 cc282-3W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support will be available to students in England and Wales in the academic year 2002–03. [23910]

Margaret Hodge

The level of support available to students in 2002–03 will be 2.4 per cent. higher than for 2001–02, in line with forecast price increases. I am today placing a Memorandum in the Library giving details of the new loan, grant and fee rates for 2002–03. These rates will be incorporated in the Education (Student Support) Regulations, which cover support for eligible students under the current arrangements, and in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations and Education (Student Loans) Amendment Regulations, which cover the small number of students who are still eligible for support under the previous arrangements. These regulations will all be laid before Parliament in due course.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish information by family income bands showing the average contributions of parents to the student support and tuition fee costs of one student(a) before 1997 and (b) in 2000. [22794]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 13 December 2001]: The following table shows for 1996–97 and 2000–01 the assessed parental contributions for dependant students normally resident in England and Wales at illustrative levels of income. The maximum assessed contribution will depend on the level of support available to the student. This will depend on whether the student is living in the parental home or, if living away from home, if they live in London or elsewhere. In addition it will depend on whether they are entitled to any of the additional allowances. For illustrative purposes the table shows the assessed contributions for a single student eligible for the basic rate of support for students living away from home outside London.

In 2001–02 there were a number of changes to the calculation of assessed contribution including a significant rise in the lower income threshold. The table therefore includes the assessed contributions for this year also.

1996–97 2000–01 2001–02
Assessed Assessed contribution Assessed contribution
Residual income contribution to grant2 Total To fee To loan Total To fee To loan
£16,0503 45
£17,000 118
£17,8054 180 45 45 0
£18,000 195 60 60 0
£19,000 271 136 136 0
£20,0005 348 213 213 0 45 45 0
£21,000 440 290 290 0 150 150 0
£22,000 549 367 367 0 255 255 0
£23,000 658 451 451 0 360 360 0
£24,000 766 560 560 0 466 466 0
£25,000 875 669 669 0 571 571 0
£26,000 984 111 111 0 676 676 0
£27,000 1,092 886 886 0 781 781 0
£28,000 1,201 995 995 0 887 887 0
£29,000 1,310 1,103 1,103 0 992 992 0
£30,000 1,418 1,212 1,050 162 1,097 1,075 22
£31,000 1,548 1,321 1,050 271 1,202 1,075 127
£32,000 1,681 1,429 1,050 379 1,308 1,075 233
£32,2186 1,710
£33,000 1,538 1,050 488 1,413 1,075 338
£34,000 1,660 1,050 610 1,518 1,075 443
£35,000 1,793 1,050 743 1,623 1,075 548
£36,000 1,927 1,050 877 1,729 1,075 654
£36,3987 1,980 1,050 930
£37,000 1,834 1,075 759
£38,000 1,939 1,075 864
£38,8568 2,030 1,075 955
1 Assessed contributions are based on parents' 'residual income'. This is based on gross income, for income tax purposes less a number of allowances.
2 The assessed contribution shown is the initial assessment. This assessment will be reduced if the parents have other dependent children.
3 In 1996–97 for residual incomes below £16,050 no contribution was assessed.
4 In 2000–01 for residual incomes below £17,705 no contribution was assessed.
5 In 2001–02 for residual incomes below £20,000 no contribution is assessed.
6,7,8 Above this point additional contributions would be required if a student was eligible for a higher rate of support, was eligible for additional allowances or the parent had more than one child in higher education.