Nurses: Students

Mr. Baron
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability, subject to a means test, of grants for nursing students studying for (a) a diploma course or (b) a degree; and what comparison she has made of the difference in sums available.

Ms Rosie Winterton
[holding answer 4 June 2007]: From 1 September 2006, diploma students who are entitled to a non-means tested bursary can receive a basic award up to £7,030 a year. Degree students who are entitled to a means tested bursary can receive a basic award up to £4,378 (based on a 45-week course) and they are also eligible to apply for a Department for Education and Skills student loan. From 1 September 2007, diploma students can receive a basic award of up to £7,443 and degree students (based on a 45-week course) can receive up to £4,715. The total amount of both the non-means-tested and means-tested bursaries can increase with additional allowances subject to individual circumstances. The provisions of the national health service bursary scheme are under consideration with stakeholders as part of the modernisation process.