§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of the Trident programme in the next financial year. [28205]
§ Mr. George RobertsonI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 11 February 1998,Official Report, columns 240–41.
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§ Dr. Howells£5 million has been made available in 1998–99 in England and Wales. New students starting their courses after 1 September 1998 who are eligible for the normal student loan will be eligible to apply additionally for the hardship load, which is discretionary and intended to contribute towards the living costs of students in financial hardship. The amount available to individual students will be £250 per year. The hardship loan will be repayable on an income contingent basis under similar arrangements to the normal loan.
The other points raised are currently being considered and we will be consulting interested parties on the details shortly.