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Student Grants
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average grant received by students in (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993 and (d) 1994; and if she will make a statement. [1213]
Mr. Forth: The average net maintenance grants after means testing received by mandatory award holders in England and Wales in the academic years 1990-91 to 1993-94 are set out in the table. Since 1990-91, eligible students have also had access to non-means-tested student loans.
| Academic year | Average net maintenance grant paid by local education authorities(7) |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | |
| 1990-91 | 1,480 |
| 1991-92 | 1,540 |
| 1992-93 | 1,610 |
| 1993-94 | 1,670 |
(7) To the nearest £10.
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Hardship Funds
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students applied for hardship funds in (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993 and (d) 1994; and if she will make a statement. [1216]
Mr. Forth: The purpose of the hardship funds, correctly known as the access funds, is to provide financial help to students whose access to further or higher education might be inhibited by financial considerations or who, for whatever reason, including physical or other disabilities, face financial difficulties.
| Academic year | Further education | Higher education |
|---|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 22,100 | 116,000(8) |
| 1991-92 | 30,000 | 118,200(8) |
| 1992-93 | 32,400 | 67,440 |
| 1993-94 | Not available | 77,060 |
| 1994-95 | Not available | Will be available later in the year |
(8) Figures relate to the UK; other figures are not for England only.
Figures for further education access funds may exclude some students at colleges who failed to submit returns.
Student Loans
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many students
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applied for student loans in (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993 and (d) 1994; and if she will make a statement; [1215]
(2) how many students who graduated in (a) 1989, (b) 1990, (c) 1991, (d) 1992, (e) 1993 and (f) 1994 are still in debt to the Student Loans Company; and if she will make a statement. [1214]
Mr. Forth: These are matters for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Ethnic Monitoring
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for the continuation of ethnic monitoring of school pupils following the consultation exercise earlier this year. [1975]
Mrs. Gillan: Our consultations of future arrangements for ethnic monitoring of school pupils produced a clear consensus for improving the usefulness of monitoring while reducing the burden on schools. We have therefore decided to cease the existing separate ethnic monitoring surveys and introduce instead a combination of approaches. First, the 1996 schools census will include simple new questions about the ethnic backgrounds of pupils. The three new questions will cover: the total number of ethnic minority pupils in each school; the names of the largest groups; and the total number of pupils for whom English is a second language. More detailed questions will be developed for inclusion in the 1997 schools census. Secondly, Ofsted will monitor the progress of ethnic minority pupils in individual schools, as part of its regular inspection process. Thirdly, research will be undertaken where necessary to investigate particular issues in depth. Details of the new arrangements were sent to local authorities and schools in September.
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