§ Lord Gisboroughasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state for the most recent year for which figures are available, and using figures based on purchasing power of currencies for that year:
in Common Market and other major industrialised countries.527WA
- (a) the maximum maintenance grant for students;
- (b) the average maintenance grant awarded;
- (c) the proportion of students who receive grants;
- (d) the extent to which Government and other loans are available,
§ The Earl of SwintonInformation for EEC countries is available for 1982–83 as follows:—
Country (a) Maximum grant Average grant Proportion receiving (i) Grants (i) Loans £ £ % % Belgium 1,390 480 45 Nil Denmark 1,520 740 * * France 1,000 * * * Germany Nil Nil Nil (b) Greece 200 * * * Ireland 1,000 * * * Italy 715 * 20 * Luxembourg 920 * * * Netherlands.. 1,585 1,140 * * United Kingdom 1,595 1,350 97 Nil
- (a) All the above systems, including those with loans, involve means tests taking account of student's and parents' incomes.
- (b) Since 1983 West Germany has operated a loans scheme. This is confined however to students whose parents earn below about £8,000 p.a.
Some comparable information is available for other major industrialised countries as follows:—
Japan Nil Nil Nil 14 Sweden 200 * * * USA 950 * 50 * Not available.