To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the extent of hardship among students. [75610]

The most recent Student Income and Expenditure Survey for the academic year 1995–96 found no evidence of widespread student hardship. The next survey is now under way for the 1998–99 academic year.We have uprated students' total resources for 1999–2000 in line with forecast inflation, thus protecting their value in real terms. We have almost doubled the Access Funds to £44 million and have made hardship loans available for new students.