HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 cc72-4WA
Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total cost of student maintenance grants for those over 18 (a) in further education; (b) in higher education (first degree courses only); (c) in professional and non-degree courses; and what part of this cost is administration (a) by central government; (b) by local government and (c) by other grant awarding bodies.

The Minister of State, Department for Education (Baroness Blatch)

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The latest academic year for which figures on grants are available is 1991–92. In that year, maintenance grants totalling—

£115 millions were made to students in further education (excluding those living in Scotland, in respect of whom relevant data are unavailable,

£753 millions were made to students on full-time and sandwich first degree and comparable courses in accordance with nationally prescribed regulations, and £298 millions were made in awards to other students on courses in higher education (including awards to those on professional and non-degree courses and those with discretionary awards for first degree courses made under locally-determined rules).

It is not possible to separate out from these figures the costs relating to those over 18. Data on administration costs are not collected centrally.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For the latest available year, how many over 18 year-olds are studying for a professional qualification (a) full-time (b) part-time, and how many of these are studying full-time and part-time; how many of those studying part-time are receiving (a) income support and (b) housing benefit and what is the total annual cost of each for this group; and what they estimate the figures will be in 1996 and 1999.

Baroness Blatch

There were 13,000 full-time under-graduate students and 72,000 part-time undergraduate students enrolled on courses leading to a professional qualification in the United Kingdom in 1991–92. The numbers of part-time students in receipt of income support and housing benefit are not collected centrally.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For the latest available year, how many over 18 year-olds attend higher education establishments in the United Kingdom for a first degree; how many of these are studying full-time and how many part-time; how many of those studying part-time are receiving (a) income support and (b) housing benefit, and what is the total annual cost of each for this group; and what they estimate the figures will be in 1996 and 1999.

Baroness Blatch

There were 569,000 home resident undergraduate students studying full-time and 342,000 studying part-time in the United Kingdom in the academic year 1991–92. The numbers of part-time students in receipt of income support and housing benefit are not collected centrally.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For the latest available year, how many over 18 year-olds attend further education establishments in the United Kingdom; how many of these are studying full-time and how many part-time; how many of those studying part-time are receiving (a) income support and (b) housing benefit, and what is the total annual cost of each for this group; and what they estimate the figures will be in 1996 and 1999.

Baroness Blatch

There were 145,000 over 18 year-old students following full-time and 2,661,000 following part-time further education courses in the United Kingdom during the academic year 1991–92. Part-time students in receipt of income support and housing benefit are not separately identified and figures and costs are not therefore available.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For the latest available year, how many over 18 year-olds are attending non-degree courses (e.g. drama school) which are eligible for discretionary grants; how many are receiving discretionary grants; how many are receiving (a) income support and (b) housing benefit, and what is the total annual cost of each for this group; and what they estimate the figures will be in 1996 and 1999.

Baroness Blatch

In 1991–92, 25,000 students resident in England and Wales were in receipt of a discretionary HE award from a local authority, at a total cost in fees and maintenance of £75,000,000.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total financial contribution made by parents to student grants.

Baroness Blatch

The total assessed parental contribution to awards made under nationally prescribed regulations was estimated to be £627 million in 1991–92, the latest year for which figures are available. Figures for the assessed parental contributions to discretionary awards made under locally determined rules are not available.