§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the disparity between the respective levels of postgraduate award and the undergraduate award, when evaluated on a weekly basis; and when he expects the postgraduate award to be reviewed;
(2) if he will make a statement on the reason for the disparity between the respective levels of the London allowance for postgraduate students and that for undergraduates, when evaluated on a weekly basis; and when he expects the postgraduate allowance to be reviewed.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerIn general, the postgraduate grant is related to a 52-week year, and the undergraduate grant to 30 weeks of term-time study; but the latter also includes a contribution to maintenance during the vacations, so a valid comparison on the basis of weekly rates cannot be made. Rates of postgraduate grant for the academic year 1976–77 are now being reviewed, and I expect an announcement to be made shortly.