§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of the 8 February,Official Report, column 255, if he will indicate what financial provision is made by (1) his Department, (2) education and library boards and (3) the DHSS for the maintenance of students who do not get a placement for all; or part of their year out of higher education.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 26 February 1991]: The information requested is as follows:
(1) Students who do not secure placements during their year out of higher education are entitled to seek top-up loans of up to £460 in a full year, depending on circumstances, from the Student Loans Company. Loans to students resident in Northern Ireland are funded by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. The Department has also made provision for the establishment of access funds in the universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland to enable them to provide additional support, at their discretion, for students in particularly difficult financial circumstances.(2) Education and library boards have also been allocated access funds by the Department to enable them to provide similar support for further education students aged 19 or over.(3) Income support and housing benefit are available to prescribed groups of students, in particular, lone parents, disabled people and student couples with dependent children.