§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the efficiency of payments of grants to students by local education authorities; and if the citizens charter specifies the standard of service students are entitled to in this respect.
§ Mr. BoswellLocal education authorities are responsible for ensuring the prompt payment of grants to students. My right hon. Friend wrote on 8 September 1993 to the chairmen of all authorities in England and Wales to remind them that students have a right to expect the prompt payment of their grant at the start of term, provided that they have met the authority's application deadline and given such information as the authority requires. The charters for further and higher education published by my right hon. Friend on 21 September 1993 tell students about the level of service they have a right to expect from their authority. The Department is prepared to take up some complaints of significant delay with the authority concerned.