§ 27. Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to support part-time students in higher education. [81543]
§ Mr. MudieFrom September this year tuition will be free for part-time students on benefits, and from September 2000 loans of at least £500 will be available to part-time students on low incomes. We have already made Access Funds available to part-time students, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England provides a 5 per cent. premium on funding to higher education institutions for each such student.