Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what grants from the Students Fund for 2001–02 are still to be announced; and if he will make a statement. [152482]
734W
§ Mr. WicksThe total amount of funding which the Government are making available through the higher education Hardship Fund in 2001–02 is £93.3 million, 6 per cent. higher than in 2000–01. The total includes funding for fee waivers for part-time students, bursaries for student parents and Opportunity Bursaries. Within the 735W total. resources for higher education students in further education institutions have been almost doubled to just under £5 million.
Learner Support Funds for 16 to 19-year-old students, including general further education Access Funds, residential funding for students in specialist colleges and support for students in school sixth forms, will total £47.4 million in 2001–02, representing a 9 per cent. increase year on year. Support for students aged 19+ through these funds, including resources for child care support, will be £67 million in 2001 –02, representing an increase of over 20 per cent. year on year.
Notification of allocations from the Hardship Fund to higher education institutions will be made this month. Allocations of Learner Support Funds and the Hardship Fund will be notified to further education institutions at the beginning of April.