HC Deb 17 October 1989 vol 158 cc88-90W
34. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about his student loan proposals.

Mr. Jackson

The work described in my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June—Official Report columns 21–22—is proceeding. We shall announce further details in due course.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how he intends to reimburse banks for the branch cost of administering student loan repayments, deferrals and defaults; and if he will now estimate branch costs;

(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East of 24 July, Official Report, column 442, if he will publish the detailed analysis and cost-time estimates on the administration of the student loans scheme;

(3) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East of 24 July, Official Report column 441, if he will now publish his assessment of the recurring costs of student loans administration in each year beyond 1995 (a) in total and (b) per account.

Mr. Jackson

I cannot comment at this stage on matters which are subject to contractual negotiations. As we have made clear, the House will be informed of the major steps in the preparations for administration of the loans.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has held, or plans to hold, with building societies concerning his proposed top-up loans for students scheme.

Mr. Jackson

The discussions with the financial institutions described in my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June include representation of the building societies.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if student loan debt collection agencies will have access to(a) the poll tax register, (b) the electoral register and (c) national insurance records;

(2) what records student loan debt collection agencies will have access to.

Mr. Jackson

The loans administration company will have access to the normal range of public documents in addition to the information provided by students in making their applications.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith)Official Report, 24 July, column 442, concerning the next stage of the detailed analysis of the top-up loans scheme, whether this has now been completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Mr. MacGregor

When Price Waterhouse's stage 2 report is completed, I shall place in the Library of the House copies of the report other than those parts which are commercially confidential.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has managed any evaluation of the employment career development loan scheme piloted by the Department of Employment, in the context of his student proposals.

Table A
Cereals-Target threshold and intervention prices
Target Threshold Intervention
Year tonne Common Wheat Barley Common Wheat Barley Common Wheat Barley
1973–74 UA 114.94 105.29 112.80 103.10 105.80 96.66
1974–751 UA 12.184 110.55 119.00 107.70 110.03 96.60
1974–75 UA 127.93 116.08 125.10 113.25 115.53 101.43
1975–76 UA 139.44 126.99 136.45 124.00 125.93 110.96
1976–77 UA 152.00 137.80 149.30 135.10 131.00 116.00
1977–78 UA 158.08 144.97 155.15 142.00 120.06 120.06
1978–79 UA 162–39 147.23 159.40 144.25 121.57 121.57
1979–80 ECU 201.42 182.89 197.45 178.90 149.17 149.17
1980–81 ECU 214.01 194.32 209.20 189.50 155.88 155.88
1981–82 ECU 230.55 210.00 225.55 205.00 165.23 165.23
1982–83 ECU 250.61 228.27 245.61 223.27 179.27 179.27
1983–84 ECU 261.41 238.17 256.43 233.17 184.58 184.58
1984–85 ECU 259.08 236.30 254.05 231.27 182.73 182.73
1985–86 ECU 254.98 232.61 249.95 227.58 179.44 179.44
1986–87 ECU 256.16 233.86 250.81 228.51 179.44 170.47
1987–88 ECU 256.10 233.80 251.39 229.09 179.44 170.47
1988–89 ECU 250.30 228.00 245.68 223.38 179.44 170.47
1989–90 ECU 241.08 219.46 236.74 215.12 174.06 165.36

Mr. MacGregor

No. The national scheme of career development loans was introduced in July 1988. The clientele for which it is intended is quite different from that for top-up loans.