§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received opposing the introduction of the student loans scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonSince the publication of the White Paper on top-up loans for students we have received about 3,000 letters, expressing a variety of views. These included 29 petitions against student loans, with about 14,000 signatures, and about 170 formal responses to the White Paper from organisations with a special concern for student support. The responses have given us no reason to doubt that our plans are well judged. We shall take constructive criticisms into account as we proceed to develop a scheme for introduction in the autumn of 1990.