§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by the Student Loans Company Limited on preparatory work for the student loans scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Student Loans Company Limited has signed a contract with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) for the provision of the main administrative system for the student loans scheme. EDS was selected by the financial 467W institutions after an extensive evaluation of competing bids by an independent panel. As foreshadowed in the memorandum of understanding, my Department has contracted with the company for this purpose. My Department has also contracted with the company to fund items of miscellaneous expenditure required for preparatory work on the student loans scheme.