HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc461-2W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from colleges and universities of further and higher education about the adequacy of student incomes; and what was the substance of those representations.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 9 July 1993]: In the past 18 months or so, my right hon. Friend has received representations about student income from only one educational institution, a university, which argued that students faced financial hardship due to the lack of vacation employment and the withdrawal of entitlement to social security benefits.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent research he has commissioned on(a) the adequacy of student income, (b) the level of student debt and (c) whether students are leaving courses prematurely because of financial need; and what were his findings.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 9 July 1993]: My hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, announced on Wednesday 21 October 1992 the commissioning of a United Kingdom-wide survey of student income and expenditure initiated jointly by the Education Departments. We hope that the results, which should be available later this year, will bring our knowledge of student income and indebtedness up to date.

There is no evidence to suggest that the proportion of Scottish domiciled award-holding students who leave their courses prematurely is increasing.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current information he has on(a) the adequacy of student housing, (b) the extent to which students income meets their housing needs and (c) levels of student debt.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 9 July 1993]: Detailed information on student housing and its cost is not held centrally.

The survey of student income and expenditure announced by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education on 21 October 1992 will provide certain information on housing costs and student debt.