HC Deb 04 June 1984 vol 61 cc68-9W
Mr. David Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the saving in administrative costs arising from his proposal that student travel allowances should be changed to a flat rate basis.

Mr. Brooke

The information necessary to make a precise estimate is not available centrally. However, by removing the need for local education authorities to scrutinise individual claims and make individual assessments and payments to very large numbers of students, we expect the new arrangements for meeting students' travel costs announced recently to lead to worthwhile savings.

Mr. David Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of university students will be worse off under the proposal to change to flat rate student travel allowances; and what will be the average annual loss.

Mr. Brooke

My right hon. Friend expects students to take account of the new arrangements in arranging their affairs. My right hon. Friend cannot predict how this may affect individual students' travel patterns and expenditure, and so cannot determine what proportion of students will be worse off under the new arrangements or what the average annual loss might be.

Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional financial provision he is making in respect of students grants to compensate students who will be attending university for the first time for increased travel costs consequent upon the new arrangements for reimbursing student travel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

We do not expect the new arrangements for dealing with students' travel expenses, announced on 4 April, to increase travel costs. It will be for students to decide how best to arrange their affairs within the resources available to them.

Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received to date protesting against the change in the system of reimbursing students for their travel costs to and from their homes and institutions of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received regarding the proposal to change to a flat rate student travel allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

My right hon. Friend has received some 900 such representations.