§ Mr. Bryan DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the public expenditure savings which will result from the decision not to allow students who have temporarily suspended their studies to claim social security benefit. [982]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available. In general, it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system. Amendment regulations were laid before the House on 10 July to restore the original policy intention regarding students who temporarily suspend their studies, following a Court of Appeal decision. The regulations were not amended in isolation. The Department for Education and Employment has recently issued revised and expanded guidance to all local education authorities about their discretionary powers to continue to pay mandatory awards to students during periods of temporary absence.
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