§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider reintroducing eligibility to housing benefit for students who have to pay for accommodation over the long summer vacation, particularly for mature students who may own their own homes.
§ Mr. BurtWe have no plans to do so. In general it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for full-time students; mature students are likely to be entitled to additional allowances such as the older students allowance and dependency allowances. Housing benefit, which helps with rent, is available to vulnerable group students throughout their course, including the summer vacations. Income support which can provide help with mortgage interest payments, is available to lone parents and disabled students throughout their course and to student couples with dependent children during the summer vaction. In addition non-student partners can claim income support and housing benefit on behalf of the couple if they satisfy the normal qualifying conditions.