§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing mandatory grants for those students studying with the Open University who are unemployed.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing mandatory grants for all part-time undergraduates of the Open University who are (a) home-based and (b) in other universities and colleges.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOpen University students normally study from home. The cost of providing mandatory grants for all part-time undergraduates of the Open University is estimated to be about £9 million.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any further consideration is being given to the possibility of providing mandatory grants for all part-time undergraduates studying with the Open University.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. My right hon. Friend has concluded that resources cannot be made available at present to meet the cost of extending mandatory awards to part-time undergraduates studying with the Open University.