HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 cc37-8W
Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what type of guidance on available funding is offered to(a) students applying for university places and (b) current university students; and who offers this guidance. [38788]

Margaret Hodge

My Department produces an annual guide to the financial help available to students. Copies of this guide are made available directly to local education authorities (LEAs), higher education institutions (HEIs), and the booklet is also available on the Department's website.

Separate booklets are also produced for disabled students and those with children.

As part of our current marketing campaign to increase awareness of higher education among 13 to 19-year-olds we have produced booklets for pupils on student finance.

LEAs, schools, HEIs, my Department and a range of other advisers also provide advice and guidance to students on financial support.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responsibility institutes of higher education have for offering guidance to students on matters relating to(a) funding available to them and (b) managing their personal budgets. [38789]

Margaret Hodge

Individual higher education institutions make their own arrangements for providing guidance to students. The Department, together with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals is undertaking a project looking at the range of student services provided by institutions. The objective is to identify effective approaches in helping students especially those who are at risk. The project is due to report in the summer.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the arrangements for offering guidance to students applying for higher education courses on funding available to them. [38792]

Margaret Hodge

Each year my Department undertakes an independent survey of the information and guidance it produces on the funding available to higher education students. This survey informs the design and production of future financial support information materials. The most recent survey was carried out in November and December 2001.