§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in relation to the calculation of student grants, what information is available to him as to (a) the number of assessments made each year with regard to parental contributions, (b) the cost of administration and how many people are employed, (c) how many students are deemed to be in receipt of parental contributions, (d) how many students do not receive full parental contributions, (e) what would be the cost of abolition of parental contributions, and (f) what is the number of people who would benefit from the ending of the system of parental contributions.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIn the academic year 1982–83 it is estimated that 340,000 students in receipt of mandatory and full value discretionary awards were assessed for a parental contribution. Of these, 240,000 are deemed to be in receipt of a parental contribution and would therefore benefit from its abolition; the cost of this is estimated to be £165 million. No information is available on the cost of or number employed in administering the parental contribution; or on the number of students who do not receive the full assessed parental contribution.