§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has collated on the earnings of(a) female graduates and (b) male non-graduates; and if she will make a statement on alleviating female student hardship. [4989]
§ Margaret HodgeLatest Labour Force Survey figures, for Spring 2000, show average weekly earnings of £458 for female graduates with first degrees and above. Average earnings figures for the category of male non-graduates are not available from the Survey report but, within that category, men with no qualifications earn on average £293 per week. By comparison, women earn £217 per week on average.
The Government recognise that female single parents and some female mature students may have additional financial needs. They have benefited in particular from the fourfold increase in access and hardship funds since 1997–98 and will be major beneficiaries from the new child care package in 2001–02, including a child care grant typically covering 85 per cent. of actual costs. For student parents entitled to receive maximum student support, this could be up to £13,110—or £17,425 if student loans are taken into account—per year.