Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) on Tuesday, 6 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 February 2001. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 February 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average amount of student debt was in each of the last five years. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average amount of student debt was in each of the last five years. [149454] Mr. Wicks: Data from the Department's Student Income and Expenditure Surveys show that the average debt of full-time students in higher education in the UK was £840 in 1995-96 and £2,530 in 1998-99, after their savings had been taken into account. The debt figures include student loans, commercial loans and overdrafts as well as informal loans from family and friends. Data for the intervening and more recent years are not available from the survey. Since 1998-99 students entering higher education have been eligible for income contingent student loans. These are interest free in real terms and repayment is linked to income so that graduates repay only when they can afford to do so.

Secondary information