HC Deb 25 June 1976 vol 913 cc437-8W
Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the maximum grant payable to (a) a student aged under 26 years who is head of a one-parent family and (b) a student aged 26 years or over with similar dependants; and what are the reasons for any difference.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

The maximum maintenance grant payable to a student, whether over or under the age of 26, who is head of a one-parent family is £740 p.a.—£810 p.a. for London—plus dependants' allowances of £380 p.a. for the first child and £85 p.a. each for second and subsequent children. An additional allowance of £240 p.a. would be payable to a widowed, divorced or separated student head of a one-parent family if he or she were regarded as independent for awards purposes and were married before the beginning of the course. Students aged 26 years or over who were earning before the start of their course may be entitled to an additional grant of up to £285 p.a. This is in recognition of the commitments which an older person may have acquired.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the maximum dependants' allowances payable to (a) an unmarried student who is head of a one-parent family and (b) a widowed, divorced, or separated, student head of a one-parent family; and what are the reasons for any difference.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

An unmarried student who is head of a one-parent family is entitled to dependants' allowances only under the students' dependants' allowances Regulations. The maximum payable is £380 per annum for a first child and £85 per annum each for second and subsequent children. A widowed, divorced or separated student head of a one-parent family is entitled to similar allowances, unless he or she is regarded as independent for awards purposes and was married before the beginning of the course. If the student is so regarded, he or she is entitled to similar allowances under the main awards Regulations, together with a further sum of £240 per annum in recognition of loss of income which may be involved when a marriage is terminated. The provisions of the main awards Regulations are more generous than those of the students' dependants' allowances scheme, otherwise the effect might be to encourage students to take on new commitments during their course.