HC Deb 15 October 2003 vol 411 c251W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of British undergraduate students used student loan facilities while they have capital sums invested elsewhere in the last year for which figures are available; and what the annual cost is of the interest subsidy on these loans. [129987]

Alan Johnson

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 17 September, reference 129731 what credit is given to the Student Loan Company for delays in transmission of repayments by the Inland Revenue; and what plans he has to minimise such delays. [131572]

Alan Johnson

The Student Loans Company (SLC) manages student loan accounts. However, the loans are funded by and repaid to DfES, once Inland Revenue has collected and accounted for the loan repayments. The flow of loan repayments monies does not affect SLC's financial position in any way. Therefore, the question of credit to SLC for any delays in transmission of loan repayments does not arise.

As mentioned in written answer 129731, recovered loan amounts are accounted for annually in arrears (by analogy with tax collections) and there is little scope for current change. However, from 2005/06, Inland Revenue will require electronic deductions records (in respect of 2004/05) from large employers. These developments should enable earlier transmission of repayments in due course.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value was of student loans outstanding and attributable to persons who had dropped out from their higher education courses in each of the past three years. [131722]

Alan Johnson

The information requested is not available centrally.