§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the 1983–84 overspend on student grants was due to the changes in ordinary residence status.
§ Mr. BrookeThe cost of the additional students brought into the awards system due to the changes in ordinary residence status accounts for 26 per cent. of the total forecast overspend.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to introduce legislation to abolish parental contribution to student grants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeNo. The cost of abolishing the parental contribution system in 1984–85 is estimated at about £250 million. Resources are not available for this at present.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students in tertiary education not receiving full grants would cease to be assessed in terms of parental contribution if the threshold were raised by £100, £200, £500 and £1,000, respectively.
§ Mr. BrookeThis information is not available in respect of discretionary awards made by local education authorities. It is estimated that the number of mandatory award-holders in England and Wales in the academic year 1984–85 for whom an assessment for parental contribution will result in a nil contribution would increase as follows if the threshold for commencement of parental contribution was raised above the planned level of £7,600:
Increase in threshold Number of students £ 000's 100 2 200 5 500 11 1,000 23