§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the income levels will be at which students will qualify for the receipt of university bursaries; [148209]
911W(2) what his policy is on the indexation of family income levels at which students will qualify to receive (a) grants and fee remission and (b)university bursaries. [148210]
§ Alan JohnsonThe family income thresholds are uprated annually to take account of inflation. The uprating is based on the Treasury's forecast in October each year of the forecast rise in the Retail Price Index (less Mortgage Interest Repayments).
As regards university bursaries, the level and type of financial support will differ between institutions. However, as a minimum, we want to ensure, via the Director for Fair Access that no student who qualifies for maximum state support, in terms of the new higher education grant and the existing fee remission grant, has to take on additional debt as a result of higher fees. The director will expect more from institutions with further to go in widening participation.