HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc919-20W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total predicted saving to the Treasury in 1995–96, based on the latest available record, from the phasing out of the means-tested allowance payable as part of the maintenance grant to students over 26 years who had previously been in employment.

Mr. Boswell

We estimate that the total saving in the 1995–96 financial year will be about £5 million. This reflects the maintenance of the allowance to existing students, and savings will increase substantially in subsequent years.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is the new rate of loan to apply to students who are studying in London and living away from the parental home but who could conveniently live with their parents while studying;

(2) what is the total saving based on the latest available student numbers which would accrue in 1995–96 from the introduction of the new rate of loan to apply to students who are studying in London and living away from the parental home but who could conveniently live with their parents while studying; and what guidelines he has issued regarding the definition of convenient.

(A) GCSE results of pupils attaining science subjects
Academic year Maths Physics Chemistry Biology Other science Single/double science
(i) numbers in thousands
1979 509.0 201.1 149.9 264.7 249.5
1980 558.0 219.8 164.9 281.3 287.8
1981 557.9 226.0 169.0 285.8 285.3
1982 582.3 246.6 184.6 301.0 295.0
1983 569.1 256.4 193.4 301.7 275.7
1984 560.0 248.7 195.3 300.2 268.7
1985 550.8 245.8 195.8 291.5 266.0
1986 535.2 235.8 190.4 276.5 262.9
1987 537.3 234.6 191.4 271.3 263.1
1988 503.6 217.6 181.1 239.9 248.5
1989 493.8 192.3 173.3 206.7 40.6 131.4
1990 461.6 150.0 140.1 166.7 30.9 190.8
1991 449.1 98.3 96.3 107.0 20.1 284.9
1992 439.0 51.4 50.9 55.1 15.8 372.0
1993 428.4 43.9 44.4 47.8 12.9 378.6
(ii) as a percentage of the 15 year old population
1979 66.1 26.1 19.5 34.4 32.4
1980 70.3 27.7 20.8 35.5 36.3
1981 70.6 28.6 21.4 36.2 36.1
1982 75.3 31.9 23.9 38.9 38.1
1983 75.1 33.8 25.5 39.8 36.4
1984 75.6 33.6 26.4 40.5 36.3
1985 75.3 33.6 26.8 39.8 36.4
1986 75.2 33.1 26.8 38.9 37.0

Mr. Boswell

The maximum rate of student loan for students who are studying in London and living away from the parental home but who could conveniently live with their parents will be £1,530 in the 1995–96 academic year. Resources available through full year loan and grant to these students will increase broadly in line with the general uprating for student support. It is for local education authorities to decide whether it is convenient for students to live with their parents. We do not collect data on the number of students affected by such decisions by their local education authorities.