§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish full details of students allowances for session 1988–89.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI announced the main rates of student grant for the 1988–89 academic year in response to a question from my hon. Friend on 18 December 1987, at columns819–20.
I am publishing today the supplementary grant rates for the 1988–89 session. The increases in these rates are 507W broadly in line with the 4 per cent. increase in the main rates. In addition, there are three minor changes in the terms of the students allowances scheme, namely:
- (i) All student pension income will be disregarded up to a limit of £2,000;
- (ii) a student who reaches the third anniversary of his or her marriage during a course will be given independent status with effect from his or her next award; and
- (iii) unpaid placements will not count towards the length of a previous course for the purposes of the "previous study" requirements.