Student Grants (Hansard, 22 November 1983)

§ 34. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the real value of student grants for each of the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Brooke
The information requested is as follows:

Academic year Ordinary maintenance grant; Percentage value in real terms ^†

£ September 1973=100

1973–74 485 100

1974–75 605 106.5

1975–76 740 103

1976–77 875 106.5

1977–78 1,010 106.3

1978–79 1,100 107.4

1979–80 1,245 104.3

1980–81 1,430 103.4

1981–82 1,535 99.7

1982–83 1,595 96.6

1983–84 1,660 95.6

^* For an undergraduate student living in hall or lodgings studying outside London.

^† Percentage change in the grant divided by percentage change in the retail price index (RPI).

§ 56. Mr. Wareing
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to amend the regulation affecting grants to students in further education colleges to enable more unemployed people to take up full-time further education.

§ Sir Keith Joseph
No. Local authorities already have the power to make such payments at their discretion. Moreover, unemployed people receiving supplementary benefit may under certain conditions study for up to 21 hours a week without losing their entitlement to benefit.

Academic year	Ordinary maintenance grant;	Percentage value in real terms ^†
	£	September 1973=100
1973–74	485	100
1974–75	605	106.5
1975–76	740	103
1976–77	875	106.5
1977–78	1,010	106.3
1978–79	1,100	107.4
1979–80	1,245	104.3
1980–81	1,430	103.4
1981–82	1,535	99.7
1982–83	1,595	96.6
1983–84	1,660	95.6
^* For an undergraduate student living in hall or lodgings studying outside London.
^† Percentage change in the grant divided by percentage change in the retail price index (RPI).