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Budget 2015: Student maintenance grants scrapped Budget 2015: Student maintenance grants scrapped
(35 minutes later)
University maintenance grants for lower income students in England and Wales are to be scrapped from September 2016, the chancellor has said. University maintenance grants for lower income students in England and Wales are to be scrapped from September 2016, Chancellor George Osborne has said.
In his budget, Mr Osborne said the grants had become "unaffordable".
Mr Osborne also said university tuition fee caps would be linked to inflation for those institutions which offer high-quality teaching.
But critics said many low and middle income students could be put off university by these measures.
Currently, students from families with annual incomes of £25,000 or less get the full grant of £3,387 a year.Currently, students from families with annual incomes of £25,000 or less get the full grant of £3,387 a year.
These grants for living costs will become loans under the plans, which graduates will pay back once they earn £21,000 or more a year.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, said the grants had become "unaffordable".
More than half a million students in England receive a maintenance grant from the taxpayer, worth in total £1.57bn a year.More than half a million students in England receive a maintenance grant from the taxpayer, worth in total £1.57bn a year.
Mr Osborne said the cost of this was set to double to £3bn in the next decade as the cap on student numbers was lifted.Mr Osborne said the cost of this was set to double to £3bn in the next decade as the cap on student numbers was lifted.
There was a "basic unfairness in asking taxpayers to fund grants for people who are likely to earn a lot more than them", he said.
"If we don't tackle this problem, then universities will become under-funded and our students won't get places, and I'm not prepared to let that happen," he said."If we don't tackle this problem, then universities will become under-funded and our students won't get places, and I'm not prepared to let that happen," he said.
'Deterred by debt'
Mr Osborne said the move would ensure Britain continued to have the best universities in the world.
He added that there was a "basic unfairness in asking taxpayers to fund grants for people who are likely to earn a lot more than them".
The new loans will be worth more, at £8,200 a year.The new loans will be worth more, at £8,200 a year.
'Deterred by debt'
He told the Commons: "So from 2016/17 academic year, we will replace maintenance grants with loans for new students, loans that only have to be paid back once they earn over £21,000 a year.
"And to ensure universities are affordable to all students from all backgrounds we will increase the maintenance loan available to £8,200, the highest amount of support ever provided.
"To ensure our university system is sustainable, we will consult on freezing the loan repayment threshold for five years and will link the student fee cap to inflation for those institutions that can show they offer high-quality teaching."
Mr Osborne said this "major set of reforms" to make sure Britain continued to have the best universities in the world.
Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation, warned the move could put off many low and middle income students from going to university.Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation, warned the move could put off many low and middle income students from going to university.
"Since grants were reintroduced, there have been significant improvements in participation from full time less advantaged students, and this will be put at risk by today's Budget plans," he said."Since grants were reintroduced, there have been significant improvements in participation from full time less advantaged students, and this will be put at risk by today's Budget plans," he said.
"The reality is that the government has miscalculated the levels of repayments it will get from its student loans under the new fees system. Rather than penalising poorer students, it should have a fundamental review of the repayments system. We need long term solutions not a short term fix." "The reality is that the government has miscalculated the levels of repayments it will get from its student loans under the new fees system. Rather than penalising poorer students, it should have a fundamental review of the repayments system."
Monitor 'negative impact'Monitor 'negative impact'
Professor Les Ebdon, director of the Office of Fair Access to higher education, said his organisation would monitor the impact of the change.Professor Les Ebdon, director of the Office of Fair Access to higher education, said his organisation would monitor the impact of the change.
"Universities and colleges are working harder than ever to improve access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and entry rates are now at record levels."Universities and colleges are working harder than ever to improve access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and entry rates are now at record levels.
"If this change were to adversely affect further progress, I would be very concerned. I will work closely with universities and colleges to monitor whether there are any negative impacts and to ensure they mitigate those through their access agreements.""If this change were to adversely affect further progress, I would be very concerned. I will work closely with universities and colleges to monitor whether there are any negative impacts and to ensure they mitigate those through their access agreements."
NUS president Megan Dunn said cutting maintenance grants would be detrimental to hundreds of thousands of our poorest students who currently relied on them and could risk putting many people off applying to university.NUS president Megan Dunn said cutting maintenance grants would be detrimental to hundreds of thousands of our poorest students who currently relied on them and could risk putting many people off applying to university.
"We know that our poorest students are the most likely to be deterred by debt, but it could also affect where students choose to live and which courses to take.
"It will mean staying at home instead of moving into halls or shared accommodation and applying for shorter courses to reduce costs."
Mr Osborne also announced a new apprenticeship levy on all large firms, saying this was needed if Britain was going to "raise its game".Mr Osborne also announced a new apprenticeship levy on all large firms, saying this was needed if Britain was going to "raise its game".
He said too many large companies left training to others.He said too many large companies left training to others.
How will you be affected by the chancellor's summer budget? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.How will you be affected by the chancellor's summer budget? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.
Throughout the day, our team of experts will be on hand to help you make sense of the chancellor's statement. Send us your questions now.Throughout the day, our team of experts will be on hand to help you make sense of the chancellor's statement. Send us your questions now.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.