§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average debt of students on completion of their studies. [181]
§ Mr. ForthThe appropriate average debt to the Student Loans Company of borrowers who entered repayment status on 1 April 1995 was £1,415.
§ Mr. Bryan DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to use the national insurance system to collect repayments of student loans. [1466]
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the financial institutions with which her Department has had discussions regarding reforms of the student loans scheme; and which of these has indicted interest in involvement in any new scheme. [1465]
§ Mr. ForthOfficials have had, and are continuing to have, discussions with a number of banks and building societies on this subject. Given the commercial nature of these discussions, it is not appropriate to say, at this stage, which institutions officials are talking to, nor which have expressed an interest.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate for each year since 1992 in constant prices the average level of indebtedness of university and college students; and if she will make a statement. [628]