Written question asked by Brian Jenkins (Labour) on Monday, 18 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 January 2010. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Monday, 25 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Higher Education

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of university students who have withdrawn from a course as a result of a delay in receiving student finance in 2009-10.

Answer: The Department has not made such an estimate and data on non-continuation of students in higher education would not specifically show numbers who have withdrawn from a course in 2009/10 academic year due to delays in receiving student finance. I am advised that, as at 13 December 2009, Student Finance England had paid 817,000 students and that it is still receiving around 1,000 new applications a week. Students whose application for student support was not approved by the start of term would have been able to apply for help through the Access to Learning Fund, which is provided by the Government and administered by higher education institutions, and can provide assistance to students in financial hardship.

Secondary information