§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applicants for student 525W awards for fees and maintenance payments have been recently turned down because parents do not meet the three-year residency rule; and if he will consider an alternative rule for United Kingdom citizens who have spent the majority of the previous two decades within the United Kingdom. [14549]
§ Mr. AncramIn the 1995–96 academic year 36 applicants for mandatory and discretionary awards administered by the education and library boards were ineligible because of the residency rule. No applicants were ineligible on these grounds for the postgraduate awards made by the Department.
There are no plans to change the residence requirements, which are common throughout the United Kingdom.