asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the maintenance grant for a married undergraduate is assessed on the income of the student's parents; and if he will make a statement.
For the assessment of a parental contribution to be waived a student must normally have reached the age of 25 years before starting his course, or have previously supported himself out of earnings for not less than three years. Married students not satisfying one of these conditions have their grant abated by a parental contribution, since marriage alone is not considered to signify the degree of financial independence which would make it unreasonable to expect such a contribution. Married students not assessed for a parental contribution may nonetheless have their grant abated by a spouse's contribution.