HC Deb 31 October 1990 vol 178 cc578-9W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the total number of students is exempt from disentitlement to social security benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Information about the proportion of students who will retain entitlement to income support and housing benefit is not available. No full-time students will be eligible for unemployment benefit, but all students will retain entitlement to all other social security benefits in the normal way.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provisions were made for those students claiming income support, unemployment benefit and housing benefit for the period from 1 September until the start of their academic year, for(a) those students making a claim before 1 September and (b) those students making a claim after 1 September; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Those students who were in receipt of income support, unemployment benefit or housing benefit immediately prior to 1 September were able to continue receiving those benefits until resumption of their studies. Students claiming after 1 September were not eligible for income support, unemployment benefit or housing benefit unless they fell into one of the categories of vulnerable groups (including lone parents and disabled students) who retained entitlement to those benefits. In addition, partners of students would have been able to claim these benefits in the normal way.

Students who faced financial difficulty in the vacation would have been able to apply to their local education authorities, which have the discretion to make awards to students who may suffer undue hardship.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time students are still able to claim housing benefit during their period of study in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Estimates of the number of students who may be entitled to housing benefit are not available.

Mr. Burt

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of students still able to claim social security benefits into(a) single parents, (b) students with disabilities, (c) student couples, (d) pensioner students and (e) students under 19 years in further education.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

It is not possible to provide a breakdown of students still able to claim income support and housing benefit. No full-time students will be eligible for unemployment benefit, but all students will retain entitlement to all other social security benefits in the normal way.

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