§ Mr. MooreTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants by students from Scotland to study at Scottish universities and colleges for the session 1997–98 were awaiting processing on 1 December 1997; and how many processed applications were unpaid. [26054]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Student Awards Agency for Scotland had a total of 13,732 applications for awards in respect of students attending Scottish universities and colleges awaiting processing on 1 December. At the same date 94,349 applications had been processed. Where the processing of an application results in a payment being due to a student, a Payable Order is generated automatically and is normally received by the student within seven days of processing. Apart from that delivery period, the only applications processed but unpaid were those which did not generate any payment due to the student. The applications awaiting processing included a significant number which were submitted late, or for which additional information had been sought.