§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 tabulating the different grants and allowances in operation, the total cost to the taxpayer, and the amounts payable to young people above statutory school leaving age who remain at school or go on to college or university, distinguishing between non-vocational and vocational courses of education.
§ Dr. BoysonDetails of the undergraduate grants and allowances for the academic year 1979–80 were published in the Local Education Authority Awards Regulations 1979, Statutory Instrument No. 889 and for 1980–81 in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1980, Statutory Instrument No. 974, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. Of £634 million for all mandatory and discretionary awards in England and Wales in the academic year 1979–80, £335 million was in respect of university students and £299 million was in respect of students at further education colleges. Data for the current academic year is not yet available. It is not possible to subdivide the foregoing amounts between vocational and non-vocational courses.
For details of educational maintenance allowances to pupils over 16, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Foster) on 2 June 1981.