Student Grants (Hansard, 15 April 1986)

§ Mr. McTaggart
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the allowances made for parental contributions to student grants in each year since 1978–79; and if he will show parental contributions as a percentage of the full student grant in each year.

§ Mr. Walden
The information is as follows:

Assessed Parental Contributions as a Percentage of Expenditure on Maintenance

Academic Year and Parental Contribution Scale Per cent.

1978–79

£1 assessed for every £5 of income for residual incomes from £3,800 to £5,200; then £1 in £10 to £7,300; and £1 in £12 thereafter 24.6

1979–80

£1 in £8 for residual incomes from £4,700 to £9,700; and £1 in £13 thereafter 20.0

1980–81

£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £5,800 to £7,300; then £1 in £8 to £11,600; and £1 in £13 thereafter 19.6

1981–82

£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £6,600 to £8,300; then £1 in £5 to £13,200; and £1 in £13 thereafter 22.1

1982–83

Unchanged 24.6

1983–84

£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £7,100 to £9,000; then £1 in £8 to £14,300; and £1 in £13 thereafter 25.3

1984–85

£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £7,600 to £9,700; and £1 in £6 thereafter ^*30.7

1985–86

£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £8,100 to £10,300; then £1 in £5 to £15,000; and £1 in £4 thereafter up to a maximum contribution of £4,000 ^{^*}†34.8

^* Estimate.

† Minimum maintenance award abolished.

§ Mr. McTaggart
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the average level of mandatory grant available to students in each year since 1978–79 as a percentage of average male earnings in each year.

§ Mr. Walden
The information requested is as follows:
343W

Academic Year 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–93 1983–84 1984–85^*

£ £ £ £ £ £ £

(1) Average Male Earnings (April of each Academic Year) 5,151 6,335 7,117 7,899 8,400 9,088 9,797

(2) Average Full Value Maintenance Grant per Mandatory Award Holder 1,135 1,295 1,489 1,617 1,705 1,760 1,855

(3) (2) as percentage of (1) 22 20 21 20 20 19 19

^* (provisional).

Notes:
(1) Earnings figures from 1982–83 relate to all males on adult rates. Earlier figures relate to all males aged 21 and over.
(2) Grant figures include the average amount paid out in supplementary allowances and are gross of assessed contributions.

§ Mr. McTaggart
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of full-time students (a) receiving the maximum student grant with no parental contribution and (b) receiving the minimum student grant with full parental contribution, in each year since 1978–79.

England and Wales Percentage

1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84^*

Students whose parents have been assessed for a "nil" contribution 36 39 40 40 37 36

Students in receipt of the minimum award 7 8 8 10 11 13

^* Mandatory awards only.

Assessed Parental Contributions as a Percentage of Expenditure on Maintenance
Academic Year and Parental Contribution Scale	Per cent.
1978–79
£1 assessed for every £5 of income for residual incomes from £3,800 to £5,200; then £1 in £10 to £7,300; and £1 in £12 thereafter	24.6
1979–80
£1 in £8 for residual incomes from £4,700 to £9,700; and £1 in £13 thereafter	20.0
1980–81
£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £5,800 to £7,300; then £1 in £8 to £11,600; and £1 in £13 thereafter	19.6
1981–82
£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £6,600 to £8,300; then £1 in £5 to £13,200; and £1 in £13 thereafter	22.1
1982–83
Unchanged	24.6
1983–84
£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £7,100 to £9,000; then £1 in £8 to £14,300; and £1 in £13 thereafter	25.3
1984–85
£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £7,600 to £9,700; and £1 in £6 thereafter	^*30.7
1985–86
£1 in £7 for residual incomes from £8,100 to £10,300; then £1 in £5 to £15,000; and £1 in £4 thereafter up to a maximum contribution of £4,000	^{^*}†34.8
^* Estimate.
† Minimum maintenance award abolished.

Academic Year	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–93	1983–84	1984–85^*
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
(1) Average Male Earnings (April of each Academic Year)	5,151	6,335	7,117	7,899	8,400	9,088	9,797
(2) Average Full Value Maintenance Grant per Mandatory Award Holder	1,135	1,295	1,489	1,617	1,705	1,760	1,855
(3) (2) as percentage of (1)	22	20	21	20	20	19	19
^* (provisional).

	England and Wales	Percentage
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84^*
Students whose parents have been assessed for a "nil" contribution	36	39	40	40	37	36
Students in receipt of the minimum award	7	8	8	10	11	13
^* Mandatory awards only.