§ Q22. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister how many students she expects to be worse off in 1986–87 as a result of the changes in students' rights to draw supplementary benefit and housing benefit.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is estimated that some 415,000 students—about three quarters of the total—will be affected by the proposed social security changes and associated grant increase of £36 a year for those living away from home. some 140,000 of these, who currently claim no benefits except perhaps supplementary benefit or unemployment benefit in the long vacation, will gain the full value of the £36 grant increase. The net effect for the remaining 275,000 will vary according to their circumstances, but with the majority likely to have some reduction in their combined grant and social security entitlement compared to what it would be under the current arrangements.