§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many medical students failed to complete their courses due to financial difficulties in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. BoswellThis information is not currently available centrally.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to ensure that students undertaking medical science degrees are adequately financially supported during their courses. [22699]
§ Mr. BoswellThe total support available to all students in 1994–95 through the main rates of grant and loan is 4 per cent. higher than in 1993–94, thus maintaining its value in real terms. The extra weeks' allowances payable to students as part of the mandatory award who attend their courses for longer in the academic year than normal have also been increased by 4 per cent. Medical students, may benefit from these. The Government have also made £21 million in access funds available to universities and colleges in England for the 1994–95 academic year so that they can assist students, including medical students, in particular financial difficulty.