Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 February 2003. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 February 2003 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of medical students are from families whose family income is (a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £15,000, (c) £15,001 to £20,000 and (d) over £20,001, using the definition of income that he proposes to use in assessing eligibility for a maintenance grant.

Answer: Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of medical students are from families whose family income is (a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £15,000, (c) £15,001 to £20,000 and (d) over £20,001, using the definition of income that he proposes to use in assessing eligibility for a maintenance grant. [98316] Margaret Hodge: My Department collects data from Local Education Authorities on the assessed contributions by students to fees, grants and loans for all students eligible to apply for student support. This includes medical students. The latest data is for 2000/1 and relates to the definition of residual income1 that applied in that year. It is not possible to estimate the income1 distribution of medical students (adjusted to account for changes in definition proposed for the new maintenance grant) separately from this survey because separate data by course subject are not collected. In respect of estimates of residual incomes under the proposed definition for maintenance grant for all students, I refer to my reply to the.hon. Friend's previous question. 1 Residual Income is gross income less the allowances detailed in my Department's guidance, "Financial Support for Higher Education Students".

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 98316; 400 c473-4W;400 c466W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Admissions Families Eligibility Grants Income Higher education Medicine Students
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk