HC Deb 08 March 1993 vol 220 cc435-6W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support will be given from public funds towards students' maintenance in the academic year 1993–94.

Mr. Boswell

My right hon. Friend's plans for maintenance provision through mandatory awards and loans for students domiciled in England and Wales are set out in the departmental report (Cm 2210) published last month, a copy of which is in the Library. The rates of awards and loans for 1993–94 will be included in regulations to be laid before the House in due course. Support is also available through discretionary awards made by local education authorities and through the access funds.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research has been undertaken to investigate the extent of student financial hardship which has occurred during the current academic year.

Mr. Boswell

The Department has commissioned a survey of full-time undergraduate students' income and expenditure during the academic year 1992–93 including the 1992 summer vacation. The findings should be available later in 1993.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the value of the real level of the student grant for students living away from home and not studying in inner London for the year 1967–68, at 1993 prices, together with the current maximum basic grant.

Mr. Boswell

The basic mandatory grant for students living away from the parental home and studying outside London in the academic year 1992–93 is £2,265. Students in those circumstances will be able to take out loans of up to £715, making a total of £2,980. In 1967–68 the value of the corresponding mandatory grant was £2,964 at 1992–93 prices.