§ Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the amounts to be allocated to each of the access funds in England for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoswellA total of £23.78 million will be available for the access funds for the 1993–94 academic year, which represents a 9.6 per cent. increase over 1992–93. This generous increase will enable colleges and universities to offer access funds to more students who face severe financial difficulties which might prevent them from pursuing their courses. I am sure that all concerned will welcome the extra help this represents.
The total sum is being allocated between the three funds as follows:
£ million 1993–94 1992–93 Undergraduate fund 13.15 11.99 Postgraduate fund 6.03 5.50 Further education fund 4.60 4.20 Total 23.78 21.69 Note: The figures for 1992–93 have been derived from those announced earlier to bring them onto a comparable basis with those for 1993–94, having regard to the new framework for higher and further education established in April 1993.
These funds for 1993–94 will be allocated by the appropriate funding council.