§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of residual income will be deemed for parental contribution for each £10,000 slice between £10,000 and £30,000 for parents with none, one, two or three other dependent children; and what proportion of after-tax income that will amount to for parents at each tax level possible within each slice.
§ Mr. BrookeI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his question of 16 November 1984 at column376.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on how couples with more than one child in higher education will be affected by his proposals on parental contributions.
60W
§ Mr. BrookeI refer my hon. Friend to my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on Wednesday 14 November at columns238–39.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether divorced couples are assessed on the basis of joint incomes in calculating parental contributions for student awards.
§ Mr. BrookeNo.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had concerning the payment of parental contributions on student grants; and if he will make a statement on the effect of his new proposals for student awards.
§ Mr. BrookeIn the last year, the Department has received around 700 representations direct from members of the public and through right hon. and hon. Members concerning the payment of parental contributions. Our proposals for student awards in 1985–86 were set out in an answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 14 November at columns238–39. Those proposals will protect the position of families earning around average incomes or less, but will require increased contributions in real terms from those earning higher incomes.