To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for student loans were outstanding from the Student Loans Company on 1 December 2009. (305794)

The Student Loans Company has released figures to show the levels of processing and payment of Student Support in England for the 2009/10 academic year. The information is available on the Student Loans Company website and includes information, under “application status”, on “applications currently being processed” and “further information required from student/sponsors”.

I am advised that SLC is still receiving around 1,500 new applications each week.