§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial assistance was offered to students by local authority intermediate awards in the last financial year.
§ Mr. EggarThe latest data available are for the academic year 1988–89. LEA expenditure on discretionary (section 2) awards granted at less than the mandatory rate was £94.4 million split as follows:
Percentage of mandatory rate Expenditure (£ millions) 80–99 27.1 50–79 13.9 below 50 53.5
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial assistance is available for further education students, with parents on low incomes or in receipt of benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarUnder section 2 of the Education Act 1962, LEAs have discretionary power to bestow awards on persons who have left school in respect of courses which do182W not attract mandatory awards. Since September 1990 the further education access fund has given colleges additional funds to support full-time students aged 19 and over on further education courses.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial assistance was awarded to students by local authority education maintenance allowances in the last financial year.
§ Mr. EggarThe latest available data are for the academic year 1988–89. The financial assistance awarded to students by local authority education maintenance allowances was £11.2 million in that year.