§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will review the provision for access funds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorI am now able to announce that following parliamentary discussion during the various stages of the Education (Student Loans) Bill in both Houses, the Government have decided to increase to £20 million the access funds available for higher education. This will give the higher education institutions greater scope for extending discretionary assistance on a flexible basis to their students, notably those facing relatively high accommodation.
The necessary supplementary estimates approval for the additional expenditure of £10 million in 1990–91 will be sought in due course.