Student Grants (Hansard, 27 May 1976)

§ Mr. Maurice Macmillan
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what pre-tax income the parents of an undergraduate at Oxford University would have to receive, assuming that he was an only child and they had no mortgage or life insurance premiums or dependent relatives, for (i) the parents to contribute £10 per annum to the student to make up the full grant and (ii) for the student to receive the minimum grant, for each year since 1964;

(i) Parent to make a minimum contribution^* (ii) Student to receive a minimum cash grant of£50†

Birmingham University Oxford University

Academic year Pre-tax income Post-tax income Pre-tax income Post-tax income Pre-tax income Post-tax income

£ £ £ £ £ £

1964–65 … 700 693 4,220 3,172 6,040 4,300

1965–66 … 700 692 4,420 3,235 6,510 4,424

1966–67 … 700 692 4,420 3,235 6,620 4,489

1967–68 … 700 692 4,475 3,270 6,730 4,541

1968–69 … 813 785 4,615 3,358 7,035 4,687

1969–70 … 813 799 4,615 3,358 7,325 4,826

1970–71 … 900 871 4,815 3,452 8,520 5,367

1971–72 … 1,100 1,028 5,315 3,936 9,330 6,035

1972–73 … 1,100 1,080 5,525 4,129 9,810 6,226

1973–74 … 1,500 1,362 5,945 4,474 10,465 6,831

1974–75 … 1,600 1,458 7,185 5,073 12,110 7,224

1975–76 … 2,200 1,871 9,305 6,003 16,080 8,331

^* Minimum contributions were £8 from 1964–65, £13 from 1968–69, £20 in 1970–71, £30 from 1971–72, £20 in 1974–75, £30 in 1975–76.

† To estimate the parental income level at which a minimum cash grant of £50 only is paid requires details of both the appropriate maximum rate of maintenance grant and the fees paid for a course. For the Answer it has been assumed that the student is living away from home. For Birmingham University the figures of fees represent the averages for students following arts and science courses. For Oxford University the fees vary between colleges, and the Answer is based upon the fees charged by Jesus College.

§ Mr. Bryan Davies
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has reached a decision about the revaluation of rates of undergraduate student grants for the academic year 1976–77; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Mulley
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now completed the revaluation of student grants. The main rates of grant to apply for the academic year 1976–77 will be increased as follows: for students living away from home in London from £810 to £955; for students living away from home other than in London from
354W
and what the post-tax income of the parents would have been in each of those years, assuming that the income was all earned by the husband;
(2) what pre-tax income the parents of an undergraduate at Birmingham University would have to receive, assuming that he was an only child and that they had no mortgage or life assurance premiums or dependent relatives for (i) the parents to contribute £10 per annum to the student to make up the full grant and (ii) for the student to receive the minimum grant for each year since 1964; and what the post-tax income of the parents would have been in each of those years, assuming that the income was all earned by the husband.

§ Mr. Gerry Fowler
The estimated incomes concerned are:
£740 to £875; for students living at home from £570 to £675. Supplementary grants will also be increased.
In addition, the awards arrangements will be changed so as to enable a married student who, prior to taking a course, has stayed at home to look after children, to count this period, together with periods of employment, in establishing independence from parents for awards purposes.
The starting point for parental contributions to the student grant will be raised from a residual income of £2,200 to £2,700 and contributions will be reduced 355W throughout the scale. The spouse's contribution will be adjusted in the same way.
The £50 minimum grant will be retained.
Copies of a statement giving full details of the new rates and arrangements are available in the Library of the House.

		(i) Parent to make a minimum contribution^*	(ii) Student to receive a minimum cash grant of£50†
				Birmingham University	Oxford University
Academic year		Pre-tax income	Post-tax income	Pre-tax income	Post-tax income	Pre-tax income	Post-tax income
		£	£	£	£	£	£
1964–65	…	700	693	4,220	3,172	6,040	4,300
1965–66	…	700	692	4,420	3,235	6,510	4,424
1966–67	…	700	692	4,420	3,235	6,620	4,489
1967–68	…	700	692	4,475	3,270	6,730	4,541
1968–69	…	813	785	4,615	3,358	7,035	4,687
1969–70	…	813	799	4,615	3,358	7,325	4,826
1970–71	…	900	871	4,815	3,452	8,520	5,367
1971–72	…	1,100	1,028	5,315	3,936	9,330	6,035
1972–73	…	1,100	1,080	5,525	4,129	9,810	6,226
1973–74	…	1,500	1,362	5,945	4,474	10,465	6,831
1974–75	…	1,600	1,458	7,185	5,073	12,110	7,224
1975–76	…	2,200	1,871	9,305	6,003	16,080	8,331
^* Minimum contributions were £8 from 1964–65, £13 from 1968–69, £20 in 1970–71, £30 from 1971–72, £20 in 1974–75, £30 in 1975–76.
† To estimate the parental income level at which a minimum cash grant of £50 only is paid requires details of both the appropriate maximum rate of maintenance grant and the fees paid for a course. For the Answer it has been assumed that the student is living away from home. For Birmingham University the figures of fees represent the averages for students following arts and science courses. For Oxford University the fees vary between colleges, and the Answer is based upon the fees charged by Jesus College.