HC Deb 27 January 1986 vol 90 c364W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement explaining the factors which he takes into account in establishing the level of student grant.

Mr. Walden

The level of student grant represents a balance between covering students' needs and the total expenditure which taxpayers and ratepayers can reasonably be asked to meet, given other claims on scarce resources.

Mrs. Peacock

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Her Majesty's Goverment intend the £36 compensation sum, to be paid to students under his White Paper scheme, to be means-tested.

Mr. Walden

Any increase in the student grant arising from the present proposals to change student's entitlement to social security benefits would be means-tested in the usual way. The vast majority of students would, however, receive the additional sum in full.