HC Deb 25 April 1995 vol 258 cc479-80W
19. Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students are currently entitled to the older students allowance. [19187]

Mr. Boswell

About 32,000 students were eligible for the allowance as a part of a mandatory award in 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available.

24. Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received regarding the withdrawal of the older students allowance. [19192]

Mr. Boswell

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations, including those from university administrators and student unions.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many mature students were allocated the full amount of the mature students grant. [20791]

Mr. Boswell

Provisional figures for the academic year 1993–94 show that local education authorities in England and Wales made 40,000 older students' allowances as part of mandatory awards to students domiciled in their areas. The older students' allowance forms part of the mandatory award for eligible students, but because the award is means-tested it is not possible to identify how many students received the full value of the allowance within the payable award.