To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the distribution of mandatory student grants by local education authorities in the current academic year.

Most local education authorities have managed to administer the record numbers of student awards this year on a satisfactory timescale. It is a matter for regret that a number of authorities, however, allowed significant backlogs to occur last autumn. My Department has investigated the complaints we have received, and has reminded the authorities in question of their obligations.