HC Deb 18 December 1987 vol 124 cc759-60W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce the level of student grants for the year 1988–89.

Mr. Jackson

Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, the main rates of student grant will be increased by 4 per cent. in the 1988–89 academic year. In England and Wales the new rates will be as follows (rates for 1987–88 are show in brackets):

Undergraduate (£) Postgraduate (£)
Hall or lodgings
(i) London 2,425 (2,330) 3,630 (3,492)
(ii) Elsewhere 2,050 (1,972) 2,975 (2,859)
Parental home 1,630 (1,567) 2,160 (2,070)

The threshold for parental contributions, and the points on the contribution scale at which the rate of contribution changes, will be uprated on average by about 6.5 per cent. Parents whose residual income is below £9,900 will not be assessed for a contribution. The minimum contribution will be increased from £40 to £50 and the maximum, which in general applies only to parents with more than one child in receipt of grant, will rise from £4,600 to £4,900.

The full parental contribution scale for 1988–89 will be as follows:

Residual income £ Contribution £
9,900 50
10,000 64
11,000 207
12,000 350
12,600 435
12,700 455
12,800 475
12,900 495
13,000 515
14,000 715
15,000 915
16,000 1,115
17,000 1,315
18,000 1,515
18,400 1,595
18,500 1,620
19,000 1,745
20,000 1,995
21,000 2,245
22,000 2,495
23,000 2,745
24,000 2,995
25,000 3,245
26,000 3,495
27,000 3,745
28,000 3,995
29,000 4,245
30,000 4,495
31,000 4,745
31,620 14,900
1 Maximum.

Notes:

1. For 1988–89 the level of contribution will be assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,900 to £12,600; then £1 in £4 to £18,400; and £1 in £4 thereafter. (In 1987–88 it is assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,300 to £11,800; then £1 in £5 to £7,300; and £1 in £4 thereafter.

2. The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award-holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offset by alowances for other dependent children.