§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average student loan for a student from(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens and (d) England was in each year since 1997. [137996]
§ Alan JohnsonInformation on the region or Local Education Authority of domicile of applicants for student loans is not available prior to academic year 1999/2000; data on the domicile of students taking out fixed rate mortgage style loans (normally those who entered higher education before 1998/99) is not available because applications are made through their education institution.
The available information on students taking out income contingent loans is shown in the table:
Average income-contingent loan1 taken out by domicile of student–academic years 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02 Average income contingent student loan1 taken out, 2,3 (£) Academic year Domicile4 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 North West5,6 3,130 3,090 3,130 Merseyside6,7 3,110 3,060 3,100 St. Helens6 3,030 3,000 3,040 England 3,180 3,160 3,190 1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. From 1999/2000 students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis. The ratio of support for mandatory award holders, i.e. those who entered higher education up to 1997/98, was roughly 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. non means-tested loan repayable on a mortgage style basis. 2 Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. 3 Excludes the fixed rate loan (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000. 4 From academic year 1999/2000, student support students apply to their Local Education Authority for assessment of their eligibility for student support, including student loans, irrespective of their place of study. Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, continue to make applications for student loans through their education institution. 5 The North West Government Office Region. 6 Data at a level below England have been taken from available data and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid: England data are only those loans actually paid. 7Merseyside includes Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral Local Education Authorities. Source
Student Loans Company
Average mortgage style loan1 taken out(£)2 Academic year Domicile3 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 England 1,470 1,460 1,520 1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. From 1999/2000 students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters 557W of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis. The ratio of support for mandatory award holders, i.e. those who entered higher education up to 1997/98, was roughly 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. non means-tested loan repayable on a mortgage style basis.
2Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10
3 From academic year 1999/2000, student support students apply to their Local Education Authority for assessment of their eligibility for student support, including student loans, irrespective of their place of study. Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, continue to make applications for student loans through their education institution.
Source
Student Loans Company
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average size of(a) grants, (b) student loans and (c) the debt acquired to enable students to finance higher education has been in each year since 1997. [138043]
§ Alan JohnsonThe support arrangements under the mandatory awards scheme for eligible undergraduate students domiciled in England and Wales on courses which began before 1 September 1998 consisted of payment, usually in full, of their tuition fees, a grant towards their maintenance, depending on income, and a non-income assessed loan. New students in academic year 1998/99, with a few exceptions, were expected to contribute up to £1,000 a year towards the cost of their tuition depending on family income. In 1998/99, income-assessed grants on average only formed about a quarter of the support available and all students were entitled to a non income-assessed loan which comprised the remaining three quarters of support available and which will be repayable on an income contingent basis. New entrants to higher education from 1999/2000, together with those who started in 1998/99, received support for living costs solely through loans which are partly income-assessed. Grants for living costs are no longer available except for some limited allowances, e.g. for students with dependants; students who require assistance with travel, books and equipment; lone parent students; students leaving care; students with dependant children who are eligible for school meals grants; and disabled students.
The overall maintenance grant and student loan is shown in the table.
558W
Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02 England and Wales Average maintenance per award holder (£) England and Wales1 Average loan (£)1.2 1997/98 Student Support Scheme3 n/a n/a Mandatory Awards4 1,210 1,5308 All Students 1,210 1,5308 1998/99 Students Support Scheme3.5 690 2,5808 Mandatory Awards4 1,190 1,5208 All Students 1,030 1,8708 1999/2000 Students Support Scheme3.6.7 120 3,180 Mandatory Awards4 1,150 1,470 All Students 510 2,590
Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02 England and Wales Average maintenance per award holder (£) England and Wales1 Average loan (£)1.2 2000/01 Student Support Scheme3,6,7 140 3,160 Mandatory Awards4 1,130 1,460 All students 270 2,960 2001/02 Student Support Scheme3,6,7 170 3,190 Mandatory Awards4 1,250 1,520 All students 200 3,150 1 Rounded to the nearest £10. 2 Averages relate to the amount of loan taken out in that academic year; excludes hardship loans and the fixed rate (£500) loans for part-time students. 3 Students who entered higher education from 1998/99. These students are eligible for student loans repayable on an income contingent basis. 4 Students who entered higher education up to those who entered in 1998/99 to whom the existing arrangements still 1997/98 and applied. These students are eligible for non means-tested loans repayable on a mortgage style, fixed term, basis. 5 New students in 1998/99 received support for maintenance through income-assessed grants(comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three quarters of the support available). 6 From 1999/2000, students who entered higher education from 1998/99 onwards received support for maintenance through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed. 7 Data on maintenance expenditure for student support scheme students from 1999/2000 relates to additional allowances/grants available to eligible students for extra help depending on their circumstances, e.g. students with disabilities, students with dependents, single parent students, those incurring certain travel costs, and those who have recently left care. 8 Data are for UK. n/a = not applicable Source
Form F503G survey of local education authorities on student support and Student Loans Company
The Department does not collect annual data for HE students' total debt on graduation (including bank loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and informal debts to family and friends). The Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES), which collects this information is undertaken every three to four years. Findings from the last survey in 1998/99 showed that the average total anticipated debt of all full-time students graduating in 1998/99 was £3,462. The Department has conducted a SIES for the 2002/03 academic year which will be published shortly.
§ Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets(a) his Department and (b) the Student Loans Company have for delivering loan payments; and what assessment he has made of whether these targets have been met. [138669]
§ Alan JohnsonWe set performance targets for the Student Loans Company each year. The latest figures on performance against targets are for 2001–02. The 2001–02 targets for delivering mortgage style and income contingent loan payments to students were that the Company should pay 100 per cent. of loan payments within 17 days of receiving an actionable application form. For mortgage style loans, 99 per cent. payments were made within that timescale; for income contingent 559W loans, 98.5 per cent. payments were made within the timescale. Figures showing performance against targets for 2002–03 will be available shortly.
§ Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) new students and (b) continuing students received their loans within (i) two weeks, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months and (iv) four to five months of sending their applications for academic year 2003–04. [138670]
§ Alan JohnsonThe information is not available in the requested format. All students who applied by the published deadlines with the correct information have now been paid.
§ Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provisions are in place to support students awaiting loan payments. [138671]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Hardship/Access to Learning Fund is made available to institutions with HE students to provide discretionary financial help for both full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students can receive an emergency short-term loan from the Fund, where their first loan payment has been delayed beyond the start of term.