§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in full-time post school education took up the disabled students' allowance in each of the last five years. [63399]
§ Mr. MudieThe disabled students allowance forms part of the mandatory award. Mandatory awards are payable to personally eligible students attending full-time sandwich courses leading to a first-degree or comparable qualification, DipHE or HND courses and courses of initial teacher training. There are three separate allowances—that for specialist equipment; for non-medical helpers; and the general disabled students allowance. Travel costs resulting from a disability can also be met as part of the award. The number of disabled students' allowances made by Local484W Education Authorities in England and Wales as part of mandatory awards in the academic years 1992–93 to 1996–97—the latest year for which figures are available—are shown in the table:
Number1 of disabled students' allowances England and Wales2: academic years 1992–93 to 1996–97 Academic year Number of awards3 1992–93 2,490 1993–94 4,050 1994–95 5,320 1995–96 6,550 1996–97 8,120 1 The table shows the number of awards, not the number of students. Students can receive more than one type of disabled students allowance. 2 Made by Local Education Authorities in England and Wales to students normally domiciled in their area. 3 Number of awards rounded to the nearest 10. Source:
F503G