HC Deb 16 June 1997 vol 296 cc52-3W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of(a) how many and (b) what percentage of mature students studying for (i) undergraduate degrees and (ii) equivalent vocational qualifications in Scotland currently (1) are entitled to and (2) claim grants for (A) teaching fees and (B) maintenance, broken down into local authority areas; and if he will make a statement. [2743]

Mr. Wilson

The information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of(a) how many and (b) what percentage of those studying for (i) undergraduate degrees and (ii) equivalent vocational qualifications in Scotland are mature students; and if he will make a statement. [2742]

Mr. Wilson

There are no direct equivalences between undergraduate degrees and vocational qualifications. An undergraduate degree (incorporating first degrees, HNDs,

Students studying for undergraduate courses in Scotland: 19967–97 (provisional)
Higher Education Institutions1 Further Education Institutions2,3 Total
Mature4 students Total students Percentage mature4 Mature4 students Total students Percentage mature4 Mature4 students Total students Percentage mature4
Other
undergraduates 61,797 119,861 52 35,675 54,584 65 97,472 174,445 56
SVQ Level 4 56 56 100 220 292 75 276 348 79
SVQ Level 5 0 0 — 31 106 29 31 106 29
All undergraduates 61,853 119,917 52 35,926 54,982 65 97,779 174,899 56
1Provisional DATA: Source HESA 1996–97 December record.
2Provisional DATA: Source FES 1996–97 Autumn data.
3 Missing ages are excluded from analysis.
4Mature students are aged 21 and over.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the average maintenance(a) grant and (b) loan awarded to mature students in Scotland in each year of study; and if he will make a statement. [2744]

Mr. Wilson

The information available on student awards does not enable us to identify separately the amounts actually received by mature students as a group. It will vary according to individual circumstances.

Information on the average student loan is not available in the form requested, but the average loan made to students aged 26 or over studying in Scotland in academic year 1995–96 was £1090.