Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the trends in students entering higher education from(a) different social classes and (b) differential parental income brackets since the introduction of student loans.
§ Mr. BoswellDetails of the socio-economic background of accepted applicants to higher education have been collected and published by both the higher education admissions agencies since 1991. Details of the number of mandatory award holders in relation to the residual income of their parents are collected and published by the Department in the Statistics of Education Students Awards Volume. The 1993 student income and expenditure survey, the results of which are due to be published shortly, also sought information about the socio-economic background of those interviewed.
Although it is too early to identify any significant trends, the evidence so far indicates that the introduction of loans has had no adverse effect on participation by students from less well-off families.