§ 33. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the subsistence allowance paid by research councils to postgraduate research students.
Mr. JacksonThe principal rates of postgraduate maintenance grant paid by the research councils in the academic year 1988–89 and to be paid in 1989–90 are as follows:
1988–89 1989–90 £ £ a. Students living away from home and attending an establishment in London 3,630 3,970 b. Students living away from home and attending an establishment outside London 2,975 3,125 c. Students living in the parental home 2,160 2,270 The Medical Research Council and the Agricultural and Food Research Council have decided to supplement maintenance grants to postgraduate students supported by them by an average of £500 per student with effect from 1989–90. Research students working on MRC's programme of AIDS research will receive a further supplement of £500.
All research councils make additional payments to disabled and older students and to those with dependants. They also pay approved fees and expenses for daily and end-of-term travel, fieldwork and conference attendance.