§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing (a) the level of parental contribution to student grants each year since 1978, and (b) the number of covenants made by parents in favour of students over 18 years; and (i) the costs of tax relief on such covenants and (ii) administrative costs in connection with covenants.
§ Mr. Walden(a) I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 17 February at column 567.
(b) I understand that covenants made in favour of students cannot be separately identified, but that the 150W number of covenants made by parents in favour of people aged over 18 years is currently estimated to be 250,000. The annual cost of tax relief on these covenants is estimated at approximately £100 million. The administrative costs of these covenants cannot be separately identified. Information is not available in respect of earlier years.