§ Mr. Dorrellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish an estimate of the total cost of student grants in 1985–86 following the changes announced on 14 November, together with an estimate of the total value of the savings expected to result from those changes.
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§ Mr. BrookeThe total cost of students' mandatory awards in 1985–86 is estimated to be about £683 million. The total value of savings from the changes announced is estimated at £40 million; after forecast increases in expenditure resulting from increases in the average cost of awards and in the number of students holding mandatory awards have been offset the estimated net saving is £25 million.
§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he is planning to have as a consequence of the proposed changes to student grants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government do not consult on matters concerning the public expenditure survey. However, as part of the annual review of the mandatory awards regulations the Department invited and has received submissions from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the local authority associations and the NUS on the changes to be made to the regulations next year. Officials of the Department have met or will shortly be meeting representatives of all these organisations.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the estimated total cost to parents of the changes (a) to the scale of parental contributions for assessing parents' residual income for student grants and (b) the abolition of the minimum award for the year 1985–86.
§ Mr. BrookeForecast savings in the financial year 1985–86 from the change in the parental contribution scale announced on 14 November are £15 million. A further £9 million will be saved from the abolition of the minimum award.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the total cost or the estimated total cost to parents of the assessed contributions to student grants has been in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. BrookeThe figures in respect of mandatory awards are as follows:
Academic Year Assessed Parental Contributions £ million 1979–80 84 1980–81 98 1981–82 127 1982–83 155 1983–84 *165 1984–85 *215 * Forecast The figures show the assessed parental contribution; many parents are able to take advantage of the covenanting system to reduce their actual contribution.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the total cost to the Government of student maintenance grants, excluding and including fees, has been in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. BrookeThe figures for mandatory awards are as follows:
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Academic Year Total Public Expenditure Including Fees Total Public Expenditure Excluding Fees £ million £ million 1979–80 550 332 1980–81 679 398 1981–82 783 443 1982–83 681 472 1983–84 *726 *504 1984–85 *746 *512 * Forecast These figures are derived from LEA final returns for years up to and including 1982–83 and on provisional returns for 1983–84 and 1984–85. The figures exclude the cost to the Government of tax relief on covenants to parents.