§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the conclusion of a recent survey from Surrey Research Associates that students are buying fewer books than eight years ago, whether they will consider, within their current investigations into student finance, a mechanism which will ensure that separate moneys are available to students to buy the books they need and that this expenditure is not swallowed by maintenance costs.
§ Baroness BlatchThe new arrangements for student support provide substantially increased resources to meet students' costs, including book purchase. The full-year total of loan and grant together for 1990/91 is 25 per cent. more than the grant alone in 1989–90, and will be increased by a further 6 per cent. in 1991/92. The Government intend to monitor the new arrangements, but see no case for major changes such as introducing separate grants for book purchase.