§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the number of students likely to qualify for(a) full fees remission, (b) partial fees remission and (c) maintenance grants under his revised proposals; and what the projected annual cost for each category of such remissions and grants is. [129990]
§ Alan JohnsonFrom 2004/05, the percentage of students receiving fee remission will be affected by the inclusion of the income of parents' spouses and cohabiting partners in the means—test. Future numbers and proportions of students receiving fee remission also depend on changes in demand for higher education.
The latest data (provisional Academic Year 2001/02) available for English and Welsh domiciled students are:
(a) Full fee remission (b) Partial fee remission remission Student numbers (thousand) 334 127 Percentage 43 16 Cost (£ million) 1405 405 1 Public expenditure on fees assessed for payment from public funds. Source:
Form F503G survey of LEAs for Student Support Scheme students from England and Wales as published in the Statistical First Release of 29 April 2003.
Once the Higher Education Grant in September 2004 has been introduced, it is estimated that around 30 per cent. of students will be eligible for the full grant and around 10 per cent. for a partial grant. The annual cost has been estimated at around £300 million.