§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has as to the number of students on part-time and non-mandatory courses in further or higher education who are in receipt of(a) housing benefit, (b) income support and (c) unemployment benefit; and to which of these benefits such students will lose entitlement under the provisions of the White Paper on top-up loans for students (Cm. 520).
Mr. JacksonInformation on students' benefit claims is not collated in this form. The Department's estimates derive from a survey undertaken in 1986–87, to which a correction is applied in respect of the adjustments to the benefit regime in April. The estimates are projected forward to 1990–91, when the policies of the White Paper "Top-up Loans for Students" are to come into effect.
The Department estimates that in 1990–91 there will be some 145,000 full-time students on courses of further or higher education outside the scope of the mandatory awards regime. Of those, some 15,000 would be in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit if the White Paper policies did not take effect, and some 45,000 would be in receipt of housing benefit. Students who have no dependants and are not disabled will lose entitlement to all three benefits: full-time students in higher education will, however, be eligible for the proposed loan. However, students who are single parents or disabled, and students' families will not lose benefit. The Department estimates that some 2.000 of the students in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit will thus continue to receive it, and some 14,000 of those in receipt of housing benefit, either individually or by virtue of their dependants.
The benefit entitlement of part-time students is not affected by the policies set out in the White Paper.