HC Deb 02 February 1998 vol 305 cc563-4W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of college fees have been paid in accordance with his Department's deadlines by each local education authority in each of the last three years; [24861]

(2) what percentage of student maintenance awards have been paid on time by each local education authority in each of the last three years. [24862]

Dr. Howells

The Department's guidance to local education authorities is that they shouldpay students the first instalment of their maintenance award at the start of their first term, and further payments at the start of each term after that; and pay tuition fees direct to universities and colleges on time—either by the dates set in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations or within one month of receiving a valid fee invoice, whichever is later.

The Department does not routinely monitor LEAs' performance against these targets. Some information on mandatory awards is available from the Audit Commission's yearly reports on 'Local Authority Performance Indicators': these include an indicator for the percentage of new mandatory awards paid by each LEA by 10 October each year. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inquiries from students and parents concerning student maintenance and fees awards were received by local education authorities in each of the last three years. [24860]

Dr. Howells

This information is not collected centrally.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the resources required by the Student Support Agency to meet the volume of inquiries currently managed by local education authorities and to deal with them to the same standards. [24859]

Dr. Howells

We have had a preliminary look at this but we have made no detailed assessment of the resources required by a student support agency to meet the volume of inquiries currently managed by local education authorities and to deal with them to the same standards.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 700, in relation to the future arrangements for the administration of HE student support and to our planned review of options.