§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates she has made of the cost to public funds of the abolition of the parents' contribution to grants for students in higher education.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeIt is estimated that the cost in Great Britain in the current academic year would have been £35–40 million.
§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to extend mandatory grants to students to Higher National Diploma full-time courses.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThis proposal is the subject of representations I have received from the students' associations which I shall study during the current review of awards.
§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will set up a working party representative of appropriate organisations and departments to examine the question of parental contribution to student grants.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThis question will be considered during the current review of grants in which representative bodies are participating.