§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the average amount owed by further education(a) students and (b) mature students in Northern Ireland to (i) the Student Loans Company and (ii) personal banks as a result of and at the end of their period of study, broken down into local authority areas; and if she will make a statement. [2741]
§ Mr. WorthingtonInformation on student indebtedness to banks is not collected centrally. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Student Loans Company to write to the hon. Member about average debt to the Student Loans Company at 31 March 1997.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of(a) how many and (b) what percentage of mature students studying for (i) undergraduate degrees and (ii) equivalent vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland currently (1) are entitled to and (2) claim grants for (A) teaching fees and (B) maintenance, broken down into local authority areas; and if she will make a statement. [2739]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe information is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the average maintenance(a) grant and (b) loan awarded to mature students in Northern Ireland in each year of study; and if she will make a statement. [2740]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe available information on student awards does not separately identify those awards received by mature students. Information on the average student loan is not available in the form requested, either in the Department or in the Student Loans Company. However, the average loan to students in Higher Education Institutions in Northern Ireland, aged 26 years and over at the start of their course in the academic year 1995–96 was £1,080.