My honourable friend the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Bill Rammell) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The level of support for loans, grants and fees that will be available to eligible higher education students in the 2009-10 academic year will be broadly 2.6 per cent higher than for 2008-09, in line with forecast price increases.

For students who have entered higher education on or after 1 September 2006 and are being charged variable fees, the maximum fee payable will increase from £3,145 to £3,225 in 2009-10. The increase to the fee will be matched by a corresponding increase to the loan for fees that students can take out.

For students who are not being charged variable fees (primarily students who entered higher education before 1 September 2006), the maximum fee contribution payable will increase from £1,255 to £1,285.

The increased fee amounts will be authorised by the Student Fees (Amounts) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which will be laid before Parliament in due course.

For students who are eligible for the maintenance grant, or the equivalent alternative special support grant, the maximum amount of grant available will increase from £2,835 to £2,906.

For most students, the maximum amount of the basic maintenance loan will increase from £4,625 to £4,745. For students studying in London, the maximum amount will increase from £6,475 to £6,643, while for students continuing to live at home while studying, the maximum amount will increase from £3,580 to £3,673.

I am placing a Memorandum in the Library which gives full details of the increased loan, grant and fee rates for 2009-10. All these rates are being incorporated into the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations 2008, which will also be laid before Parliament in due course.