Grants at £8,000 and £9,000 income limits
Wilson asked about the cost of extending maintenance and fee grants at the proposed income limits; Boland estimated £5.073 million for 1981 and £6.37 million for the academic year, and disputed Wilson’s suggestion that few additional students would benefit.
asked the Minister for Education the cost under the Higher Education Grants Scheme this year and in a full year of paying a fee and maintenance grant to all students from families with an income up to £8,000 a year and of paying fees in the case of families with an income of up to £9,000 a year.
Comment on this
The estimated cost (i) in 1981 and (ii) in respect of the academic year 1981-2 under the Higher Education Grants Scheme, in accordance with the revised rates of grant in respect of maintenance and fee to students from families with an income up to £8,000 a year, and in respect of fees in the case of families up to £9,000, a year are as follows; (i) £5.073 million, (ii) £6.37 million.
These costs are inclusive of the cost of the grants on the basis of the conditions which, applied in 1980-81. This cost is estimated at £3,425 million in 1981 which is recoupable to the local authorities in respect of the 1980 financial year.
Comment on this
Having regard to the figures given, would I be right in thinking that the Minister does not expect very many additional grant holders to benefit?