§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the annual cost of introducing a maintenance grant of £7.50 per week for all pupils over 16 years old.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe annual cost of paying a non-means-tested grant of £7.50 per week to all 16 to 18-year-olds currently 29W in school would be £140 million, and it would cost a further £80 million to extend this to those currently in further education—a total of £220 million. These sums would increase substantially if significant numbers of additional young people were attracted to continue their full-time education by such a grant.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to investigate how many pupils leave school at the earliest opportunity because of the lack of maintenance grants for the over-16-year-old pupil.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to commission any new work in this area. It is already clear that financial support is only one of the factors affecting staying-on decisions.