§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is true, as reported in the Independent of 17th December, that some students in Brent have not received payment of grants due in October because of a fraud investigation; whether they will issue further guidance to local authorities about procedure for getting bona fide students certified by their institute of higher education; and whether they will introduce legislation to make late payment of student grants liable to interest.
65WA
§ Baroness BlatchI understand from the Brent education authority that it has not withheld any payments of grants to those students whose bona fides have been established. It is for local education authorities to satisfy themselves in every case that mandatory awards are lawfully bestowed in accordance with the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations. Many authorities already ask institutions to complete college acceptance forms for their newly enrolled students. Further guidance to authorities on these and other ways of combating fraud is under consideration. The Government have no plans to make the late payment of student grants liable to interest.