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Written question asked by Paul Blomfield (Labour) on Thursday, 19 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 April 2012. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 April 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Students: Finance

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the take-up of career development loans has been by postgraduate students undertaking postgraduate taught and research degrees in each academic year since 2009-10; how many applications have been received; how many students were granted a loan; what the average loan provided was; and whether his Department has conducted any equality impact assessment of the outcomes of such loans.
Answer

The Skills Funding Agency holds financial year management information on professional and career development loans (PCDL), which replaced career development loans in July 2009.

FY 2009-10 FY 2010-11
Total number of PCDL applications 20,627 19,229
Total number of PCDLs offered 12,239 8,333
(and taken up) (8,320) (7,679)
Approximate number of PCDLs taken up for postgraduate study (rounded) 6,400 5,700
Average loan value (rounded) (£) 6,700 7,000

Complete data for the 2011-12 financial year is not yet available.The Department for Education and Skills published a skills strategy equality impact assessment in 2007 which included a section on career development loans. This can be found at:"http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedd/publications/s/sseqiafull.pdf"A review of professional and career development loans will take place following the introduction of Government-backed fee loans in further education.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
105311; 543 c1018-9W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Finance Students
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk