HC Deb 28 November 1991 vol 199 cc591-2W
Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which social security benefits are potentially available to a single nursing student assuming that the student is not pursuing a Project 2000 course of nursing, is under 25, single and able-bodied.

Miss Widdecombe

Nursing students who are not pursuing a Project 2000 course have access to the normal range of social security benefits, provided the appropriate qualifying conditions are met.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many nursing students claimed community charge benefit in 1990–91.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is not available.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what minimum level of community charge would be required for a nursing student to be able to claim community charge benefit in the current financial year, assuming that(a) the student is aged under 25 years, single, is not pursuing a Project 2000 course of nursing and has a net weekly income of £96.83 and (b) the student is aged over 25 years, single, is not pursuing a Project 2000 course of nursing and has a net weekly income of £96.83.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) The personal community charge would need to be nearly £595 or higher before any community charge benefit would be payable.
  2. (b) The personal community charge would need to be about £511 or higher before any community charge benefit would be payable.

Notes:

The exemplifications assume that the single student nurse is not a lone parent or disabled. In these circumstances student nurses would he entitled to some benefit at lower charge levels.

Most student nurses will have benefited in full from the £140 reduction in community charges under the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991.