§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many students he estimates will be worse off, and how many will be better off, in 1986–87 as a result of the changes to student entitlement to supplementary benefit and to housing benefit allowances announced on 18 June.
§ Mr. NewtonOver 400,000 students in total will be affected by the proposals. It is estimated that some 140.000 living away from home will gain the full £36 increase in the grant. Of the remainder, some will make smaller gains, the effect for others will he neutral overall and some will sustain losses in their combined grant and social security entitlement. The net effect for those who make either a partial gain or loss will depend entirely on the individual's circumstances and estimates of numbers likely to have particular levels of gain or loss are not possible. However, in general, any losses from the various measures will not be cumulative.