Mandatory Awards (Hansard, 27 March 1991)

§ Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. and learned Friend is laying before the House today the Education (Mandatory Awards) (Amendment) Regulations 1991. Subject to parliamentary approval, these will amend the regulations covering England and Wales for the current academic year in the following respects.

First, they will give effect to the arrangements for architecture students announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 6 February, Official Report, columns 145–46. Following the redesignation of architecture courses, they will provide for a mandatory award this year to any eligible student who has not already received a bursary under the temporary scheme established last autumn.

Secondly, they will provide for fees-only or full mandatory awards as appropriate for certain students whose ordinary residence included periods spent in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic before unification. This is a technical change to put these students on the same footing as those whose residential qualifications were acquired elsewhere in EC territory.

Thirdly, the amendments will dispense with the allowance which has hitherto been payable, at discretion, to students who would otherwise suffer undue hardship during the vacation. This allowance is no longer needed, now that the resources available to students have been substantially increased, notably with the introduction of loans. Its removal will ease local education authorities' administration of awards. Students will still be eligible for the extra weeks study allowance if they are required to attend their courses during the vacation.

Finally, the amendments will correct some minor technical ambiguities in the provisions for termly payment 413W of fees, for certain exceptional entitlements to a mandatory award following previous award-supported study, and for the scope of the basic disabled student's allowance.