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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Next year's student loans delayed | Next year's student loans delayed |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The start of the applications process for next year's student loans for England is being delayed - following this year's widespread problems. | The start of the applications process for next year's student loans for England is being delayed - following this year's widespread problems. |
| The launch of the loans and grants service for students starting in September 2010 should have been at the beginning of this week. | The launch of the loans and grants service for students starting in September 2010 should have been at the beginning of this week. |
| But the Student Loans Company says that this has now been postponed. | But the Student Loans Company says that this has now been postponed. |
| A review of loan delays for students who began courses this autumn found "conspicuous failures". | A review of loan delays for students who began courses this autumn found "conspicuous failures". |
| The delays in payments facing tens of thousands of students, which have dragged on for months after the start of term, have now caused a knock-on effect for next year. | The delays in payments facing tens of thousands of students, which have dragged on for months after the start of term, have now caused a knock-on effect for next year. |
| 'Fiasco' | 'Fiasco' |
| The intended starting date of December 7 has been withdrawn - with no new date so far set to replace it. | The intended starting date of December 7 has been withdrawn - with no new date so far set to replace it. |
| The agency which administers student support for the government, the Student Loans Company, says it was postponed pending the review into delivery problems carried out by Professor Sir Deian Hopkin. | The agency which administers student support for the government, the Student Loans Company, says it was postponed pending the review into delivery problems carried out by Professor Sir Deian Hopkin. |
| The review found problems with the processing system and a failure to provide information to students. | The review found problems with the processing system and a failure to provide information to students. |
| It found that during the peak of delays only 5% of calls to a helpline were being answered. | It found that during the peak of delays only 5% of calls to a helpline were being answered. |
| Universities have been forced to bail out students with emergency funding - with particular problems for mature students with children of their own. | Universities have been forced to bail out students with emergency funding - with particular problems for mature students with children of their own. |
| Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union described it as "a total fiasco from start to finish" - with failures in service that "beggar belief". | Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union described it as "a total fiasco from start to finish" - with failures in service that "beggar belief". |
| The Conservatives' university spokesman, David Willetts, accused ministers of failing to act despite clear warnings - and said students were "facing hardship or having to drop out of university" because they could not afford to keep themselves. | The Conservatives' university spokesman, David Willetts, accused ministers of failing to act despite clear warnings - and said students were "facing hardship or having to drop out of university" because they could not afford to keep themselves. |
| Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said the SLC was "a complete shambles". | |
| It had failed to do its job and ministers had failed to intervene. | |
| "This postponement is further evidence that the time has come for heads to roll," he said. | |
| The SLC has announced that it will undertake a "restructuring" of senior management. No date has yet been set for this to happen. | |
| The problems with the processing system are also being investigated by the National Audit Office, which expects to report in the spring. | The problems with the processing system are also being investigated by the National Audit Office, which expects to report in the spring. |
| To send comments please use the form below. | To send comments please use the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |