HC Deb 30 January 1987 vol 109 cc429-30W
Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to the Scottish Education Department of (a) student grants and (b) student tuition fees in each year since 1979 expressed in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms on a constant 1986–87 base.

Mr. Rifkind

This information is not yet available in the form requested. The cost to the Scottish Education Department of students' maintenance allowances and tuition fees in cash terms, and in real terms on a constant 1985–86 base was as follows:

Academic year Maintenance allowances (including reimbursement of travelling expenses) Tuition, etc fees
Actual At 1985–86 prices Actual At 1985–86 prices
£ million £ million £ million £ million
1979–80 52.9 80.8 33.1 50.6
1980–81 63.7 84.5 43.1 57.2
1981–82 68.4 83.8 52.2 63.9
1982–83 64.6 74.4 34.5 39.7
1983–84 70.9 78.4 30.1 33.3
1984–85 68.2 72.0 31.2 32.9
1985–86 166.8 66.8 132.5 32.5
1 Provisional.

Notes:

  1. (1) In session 1982–83 the rate of tuition fees was reduced.
  2. (2) 1985–86 price equivalents are based on the average GDP deflator for the first quarter of each year (mid-academic session).

Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the maintenance element of student grants in 1985–86.

Mr. John MacKay

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1987, c. 397]: I propose to increase main rates of allowances by about 3.75 per cent. in session 1987–88. The new rates for Scottish students will be as follows (rates for 1986–87 are shown in brackets):

£
Student in parental home 1,442 (1,390)
Student living away from home outside London 1,915 (1,846)
in London 2,273n (2,191)

Students in receipt of maintenance allowances will be eligible for reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £52 included in the main rates.

The threshold for parental contributions, and the transitional scale points, will be raised on average by about 6.75 per cent. Parents earning a residual income of less than £9,300 will no longer be assessed for a contribution. The minimum parental contribution will be raised from £20 to £40, and the maximum, for parents with more than one child in receipt of grants, from £4,300 to £4,600. The scale is as follows:

Parental contribution scale 1987–88
Residual income Contribution
£ £
8,700 —
9,000 —
9,300 40
9,400 54
9,500 68
10,000 140
11,000 282
11,800 397
11,900 417
12,000 437
13,000 637
14,000 837
15,000 1,037
16,000 1,237
17,000 1,437
17,300 1,497
17,400 1,522
17,500 1,547
18,000 1,672
19,000 1,922
20,000 2,172
21,000 2,422
22,000 2,672
23,000 2,922
24,000 3,172
25,000 3,422
26,000 3,672
27,000 3,922
28,000 4,172
29,000 4,422
29,712 14,600
1 Maximum.

Notes:

  1. 1. For 1987–88 the rate of contribution is assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,300 to £11,800; then £1 in £5 to £17,300; then £1 in £4 thereafter. (In 1986–87 the rate of contribution was assessed at £1 in £7 from £8,700 to £11,100; then £1 in £5 to £16,200; then £1 in £4 thereafter.)
  2. 2. The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end. 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 allowances for other dependent children.