§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the amount of money available to student nurses in receipt of a full bursary. [2684]
§ Mr. HuttonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 13 March that there would be a substantial increase in bursary support for all national health service-funded students, including nurses.
With effect from 1 September this year the basic rate of bursary will be increased by 10.4 per cent. This is the biggest increase in bursaries since their introduction in the late 1980s and provides diploma level students (who make up the majority of the student nurse population) with an extra £500 per year.
Further bursary changes will come into effect in September providing extra help with accommodation and travel expenses for students attending practice placements.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the bursary system on the recruitment and retention of student nurses. [2685]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service bursaries provide a level of support which compares favourably with that available to other students in higher education. They will increase by 10.4 per cent. from September 2001. However the level of bursary support is only one factor influencing the recruitment and retention of student nurses.
Applicants to pre-registration nursing and midwifery training course increased by 87 per cent. over the last three years, to 34,953 in 1999–2000, the latest year for which complete data are available.
The National Audit Office earlier this year reported that attrition form training was currently 17 per cent., lower than in previous years and in line with attrition from higher education generally. 'Academic failure' was the most common reason for nurses dropping out. The Department has commissioned further research on factors influencing drop out. This will report later in the summer.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received to extend the availability of loans to student nurses in receipt of a full bursary. [2683]
§ Mr. HuttonThe current national health service support package available to degree level students comprises 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. student loan. In addition the student's tuition fee contribution is paid in full. This support is more favourable than that available to other United Kingdom students studying at degree level.
Students studying at diploma level receive a non-means-tested bursary and have their contribution to tuition fees paid in full. However, because diploma students receive a higher level of non-repayable, non-means-tested support for maintenance than degree students, they are not eligible for assistance through student loans.
Student loans are a matter for the Department for Education and Skills and the Student Loans Company. The overall level of support provided to national health service-funded students is kept under review by my 342W Department, taking into account the views of, among others, students themselves, for instance through the NHS Student Forum.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student nurses were in receipt of a bursary in the(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2000–01 academic years; and how many of those have dropped out of training in each year. [2681]
§ Mr. HuttonThe bursary figures for the full academic year 2000–01 will not be known until 31 August 2001, the end of the academic year. As at 6 July 2001, the National Health Service Student Grants Unit (SGU) had authorised 4,117 NHS Bursary awards for degree level nursing students and 29,067 for those studying at diploma level.
Diploma students who started their training prior to September 1999 are paid a bursary by their university rather than the SGU.
The number of student nurses in receipt of a bursary for the full academic year 2001–02 will not be available until 31 August 2002, the end of that academic year.
Data on the number of student nurses who discontinued their training during 2000–01 will be published by the English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting later in the summer. Data for 2001–02 will not be available until next year.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on increasing the value of bursaries for student nurses. [2682]
§ Mr. HuttonDepartmental officials undertook a review of support arrangements for National Health Service funded students last year. Representations were received from students is and student bodies, professional bodies and others.
As a result Ministers considered a range of options for changes to bursaries. The 10.4 per cent. across-the-board increase in the basic rate of bursary, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced shortly after the 2001 Budget, was in response to the representations made.