HC Deb 10 May 2004 vol 421 cc53-4W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the evidential basis is for the estimation that 30 per cent. of full-time students will receive full combined grant in 2006/07. [169245]

Alan Johnson

Our estimate that around 30 per cent. of students will be eligible for the full grant of £2,700 in 2006/07 has been produced usinga specially commissioned survey from a sample of LEAs providing details of the actual incomes of students used in the assessment for entitlement to student support in 2002/03; Family Resources Survey (FRS) data to estimate the effects of changes to the definition of income introduced in 2004/05; forecasts of future inflation rates estimates of future earnings growth;

The estimate does not take into account possible future changes in the demand for higher education from different income groups.