§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate students in Greater London have declared themselves bankrupt in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [158455]
§ Alan JohnsonThe following table shows the number of student loan borrowers, both graduates and undergraduates whose awarding Local Education Authority is in the Greater London area, who have had bankruptcy orders made against them since 1992. There are no figures showing undergraduates as a separate group.
We are proposing through the Higher Education Bill to amend legislation in order to exclude student loans from bankruptcy debt so that student loan debt will not be written-off on discharge. 635W
Borrowers in Greater London1 Bankrupt year2 Number of Borrowers3,4,5,6 1992 — 1993 — 1994 — 1995 — 1996 — 1997 1 1998 0 1999 1 2000 0 2001 5 2002 3 2003 217 Total 31 1 Borrowers whose awarding Authority [LEA] is in Greater London area. 2 Calendar Year in which the borrower became bankrupt. 3 Data shows the number of borrowers who have applied to SLC for a loan in respect of all eligible HE courses. 4 Includes borrowers who may or may not have graduated from their course. 5 Includes all types of students (including PGCE—Postgraduate Certificate of Education students). 6 Data covers both types of student loan—Mortgage Style (including loans sold to the private sector) and Income Contingent. 7 The 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:
Student Loans Company