§ 20. Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what factual basis his Department has constructed its policy proposals to alter the reimbursement system for student travel costs.
§ Mr. BrookeThe present system of reimbursement of individual claims for additional travel expenditure is administratively costly and unsatisfactory. In addition, it represents an uncontrollable and effectively open-ended commitment to public expenditure which the Government consider is no longer acceptable.
§ 24. Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland make no claim for reimbursement of travel costs above the £50 allowance within the student grant, broken down into (a) parental home-based students and (b) away from home students, in percentage and absolute figures.
§ Mr. BrookeIn 1981–82, the latest year for which information is available, 226,000— or 57 per cent.—full value award holders in England and Wales made no claim for reimbursement of travel expenditure beyond the £50 allowance within the grant. No breakdown between students resident in the parental home and elsewhere is available. Awards to students from Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ 42. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of students on local education authority awards claimed in excess of £110 for their travel costs in 1982–83; and how many were awarded more than £110 by their local authorities for their travel claims.
§ Mr. BrookeThis information is not available centrally.