§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the parental contribution towards a student grant is a legal obligation if the student is over 18 years of age.
§ The Earl of SwintonNo.
The Lord Bishop of Rochesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether those parents who have contracted to contribute to the cost of further education, upon which their child has already embarked, can be exempted from the proposed increases in parental contributions as recently announced.
§ The Earl of SwintonThe proposed changes in parental contributions recently announced for the academic year 1985–86 will apply only to the cost of maintenance and designated fees for students receiving mandatory awards for designated courses of higher education. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has no plans to exempt the parents of students already on courses from the announced changes.