HC Deb 02 February 2004 vol 417 cc669-70W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate students in England have declared themselves bankrupt in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [151713]

Alan Johnson

[holding answer 29 January 2004]The following table shows the number of student loan borrowers, both graduates and undergraduates, who have had bankruptcy orders made against them since 1992. There are no figures showing undergraduates as a separate group.

Bankrupt year1 Number of borrowers2,3,4,5
1992 8
1993 13
1994 22
1995 40
1996 49
1997 77
1998 97
1999 142
2000 153
2001 249
2002 276
2003 6899
Total 2,025
1Calendar year in which the borrower became bankrupt.
2Data show the number of student loan borrowers.
3Includes borrowers who may or may not have graduated from their course.
4Includes all types of students (including PGCE—Postgraduate Certificate of Education students).
5Data cover both types of student loan—Mortgage Style (including loans sold to the private sector) and Income Contingent.
6The increase in the numbers of bankruptcies in 2003 seems to be as a result of greater public awareness that students loans are provable in bankruptcy.

Source:

Students Loans Company.