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7 July 2008 : Column 1385W—continued
There are a variety of circumstances why borrowers overpay but this mainly occurs when loans come to the end of repayment. The number of over-repayments has increased over the period covered by the answer as the number of borrowers with ICR loans entering into repayment has grown. ICR loans were introduced in
1998, so in the early years covered by the answer, relatively few borrowers were making repayments. For student loan borrowers with ICR loans, repayments are predominately made through the tax system. Due to the time lag in the SLC receiving information from HM Revenue and Customs, it is possible for borrowers to overpay before the SLC becomes aware that their repayments should stop.
Where the pattern of payments shows that repayment will be completed during the coming year, the SLC invites borrowers to get in touch to discuss when repayments should stop. Borrowers are then able to make manual repayments. If they do not respond promptly to the SLC, or ignore the invitation, they will probably overpay.
The SLC has recently introduced a new website facility specifically for repaying customers. This will give borrowers the ability to view their most current statement and it will also give them the chance to calculate their balance based on what they can see in their payslips.
The SLC is working on further improving the loan end process and has been asked to put in place arrangements which will reduce the number of borrowers over-repaying at the end of repayment. Those arrangements, which are likely to be voluntary, are expected to be in place towards the end of next year.
Any borrower who has repaid should contact the SLC immediately to obtain a full refund with interest. All refunds include interest at the same (retail price index) rate that was charged on the loan.
| Estimated number of borrowers with income contingent repayment student loans who have continued to make repayments although their debt has been cleared( 1) | |||
| Financial year | Total estimated number of borrowers who SLC has continued to collect from although their loan has been paid off | Total number of borrowers who have passed their SRDD( 2) | Borrowers who have overpaid as a percentage of those in repayment |
| (1) Includes all borrowers who have passed their statutory repayment due date (SRDD) irrespective of their current status. English domiciled customers only. Borrowers may be counted in more than one year if they have received refunds in more than one year. The number of over-repayments has increased over the period as the number of borrowers in repayment have increased. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred. (2) Number of borrowers passed SRDD in years 2001-02 to 2004-05 includes borrowers who have fully repaid their loans. Source: Student Loans Company. | |||
Students: North Yorkshire
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students received monies from Learning and Skills Council funding in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [215738]
Mr. Lammy: Details of student numbers receiving funding from the Learning and Skills Council at the level requested is not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC as they determine these matters after discussions with local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Lady with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
Surveying: Land
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of qualified land surveyors; and if he will make a statement. [216579]
Mr. Lammy: In line with my answer to questions 214450 and 214487 on this subject, tabled by the hon. Gentleman last month, I have asked the Chief Executive of Construction Skills to write to him directly about this matter.
Train to Gain Programme: Expenditure
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Train to Gain programme cost in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by main budget heading. [216775]
Mr. Lammy: Since it was rolled out nationally from April 2006, Train to Gain has grown quickly. It has now engaged 92,210 employers, supported 454,920 employees to begin learning programmes, and delivered 186,720 full level 2 and over 23,000 Skills for Life achievements.
The latest available full year figures for Train to Gain spend are contained in the LSC's published accounts for 2006-2007; a summary is set out in the following table.
| Table 1: Train to Gain spend 2006-07 | |
| £000 | |
| 2006-07 | |
The LSC's accounts for 2007-08 will be published at the end of July 2008.
Vocational Education: Grants
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on the making of grants under the EU Lifelong Learning
Programme for projects to develop the credit system for vocational education and training; and how many such projects are being funded in England. [216655]
Mr. Lammy: The European Commission issued a call for proposals (Official Journal of the European Union 2008/C 132/08) for projects to develop the credit system for vocational education and training. The closing date for applications to the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture is 13 August 2008. No projects will be selected for funding until after that date.
Vocational Training: Leeds
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adults post-16 were in skills training in (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and (b) Leeds West constituency supported by Government schemes or allowances in each year since 1997. [209210]
Mr. Lammy: The following table shows the total number of LSC-funded learners (split by age) resident in (a) Leeds metropolitan district and (b) Leeds West constituency by academic year from 2002-03 to 2006-07. Data for other years are not available.
| Aged 16-18 | Aged 19+ | Total | ||||
| Leeds metropolitan district | Leeds West constituency | Leeds metropolitan district | Leeds West constituency | Leeds metropolitan district | Leeds West constituency | |
| Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10; totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. The figures represent total in-learning volumes in a given year (that is to say the total number of individuals who took part in learning at some point during the academic year) and cover Further Education, Work Based Learning, School Sixth Forms (all years) and Train to Gain (from 2005-06). 3. Consistent information on learner numbers in FE is not available prior to 2002-03. Source: Individualised Learner Record and School Census | ||||||
Children, Schools and Families
Academies: Class Sizes
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size in each secondary academy school is. [216662]
Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the following table.
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