§ Mr. Merchantasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to change the travel awards system for medical students.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Department is at present consulting interested bodies about proposals to move from an individual reimbursement system of meeting students' travel expenses to one based largely on flat-rate payments. The new arrangements would apply to all students, including medical students.
§ Mr. Merchantasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost of increasing the education grant given to medical students to take account of the extra length of their courses so that their average weekly grant income matches that of other students.
§ Mr. BrookeIt is not possible to estimate the cost of the change proposed in respect of medical students alone. The cost of increasing the extra weeks allowance for all students who receive it to equate with the main rate of grant expressed on a weekly basis is estimated to be about £12 million.