HC Deb 08 April 1986 vol 95 cc49-50W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those educational grants which it is mandatory for local education authorities to pay.

Percent.
Grammar Secondary Modern ║Other Secondary
Leavers (000s) 21.3 36.6 5.9
With 1 or more A level pass 57.1 2.3 12.0
With no A level but 5 or more higher grade* O level or CSE 21.8 6.9 11.2
1–4 higher grade passes at O level or CSE 17.9 29.5 34.2
With no higher grades but 1 or more other grade† 2.4 50.8 36.4
With no graded result 0.7 10.4 6.3
TOTAL 100.0 100.0 100.0

Mr. Walden

Mandatory awards are available for the courses described in regulation 10 of the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1985—viz full-time or sandwich courses leading to a first degree, a diploma of higher education, a higher national diploma (including the higher national diploma of the Business and Technician Education Council) and full-time and certain part-time courses of initial training for teachers. There are also a considerable number of courses that have been designated as comparable to a first degree course and certain prescribed international courses leading to a first degree provided by an institution in the United Kingdom in conjunction with one in another country. A list of these courses and the institutions which provide them has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what would be the estimated cost of ending parental contributions towards the local education authority grants paid to students undertaking university education;

(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that no student who has reached the age of 18 years should have his or her grant entitlement for undertaking university degree courses reduced on a means-testing of the parents' income; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Walden

No. The cost of abolishing parental contributions in respect of mandatory award holders undertaking university degree courses—currently estimated at about £160 million per annum—is prohibitively high.