§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the number of people unable to pursue higher education because discretionary grants have not been awarded.
§ Mr. BoswellUnder the Education Act 1962, most students on courses at first degree or comparable level—which constitute the greater part of higher education—are eligible for mandatory awards. Discretionary awards are accordingly confined to students on further and higher education courses who are not eligible for mandatory or postgraduate awards. Higher education student numbers continue to grow, and I have seen no evidence of significant numbers failing to enter because they have not obtained discretionary awards.