HC Deb 12 December 1973 vol 866 cc145-6W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the existing maximum monetary value of student grants, both mandatory and discretionary; and how this value compares

Index Index Index Index Rates (£)
1960 1965 1970 1973 1973
Oxford and Cambridge:
College, Hall or lodgings … 100 104.2 118.3 146.5 520
London University:
College or Hall … 100 121.3 137.7 170.5 520
Lodgings … 100 125.4 142.4 176.3 520
Home … 100 126.7 140.5 179.7 390
Other Universities:
College or Hall … 100 121.4 135.7 173.2 485
Lodgings … 100 128.3 143.4 183.0 485
Home … 100 132.8 147.3 188.4 390

Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the method of assessing parental contribution to student grants remains valid, having regard to the erosion in the value of money.

Mr. Raison

The parental contribution is one of the issues being considered in the current review of student grants. In May of this year, as part of an interim settlement, my right hon. Friend announced reductions in the assessed contributions of parents whose residual income, namely, gross income reduced by certain allowances, was less than £2,000. The level of residual income below which no contribution is due was raised from £1,100 to £1,500.

Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the additional cost to public funds if no reduction were made to the grant payable to a girl student on marriage.

Mr. Raison

A girl student who marries another student or has to live away from the matrimonial home in order to attend her course suffers no reduction in grant on marriage. There are thought to be about 15,000 married women students receiving the special rate of grant. If this were increased to the normal rates, the cost, depending on where the student lived while taking the course, would be between £1½ million and £3 million a year. with the value of student grants in 1965 and 1970, assuming that the value in 1960 equalled 100.

Mr. Raison

The maximum rates of mandatory grant for September 1973 are set out in the table below and compared in index form with the rates for 1965 and 1970 and the State scholarship rates in 1960, taking these last rates as the base 100. The rates for discretionary grants are determined by the local education authority concerned.