PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
OLDER STUDENTS ALLOWANCE (20 February 1995)

That this House condemns the decision to phase out the means-tested allowance payable to older students; notes that the proportion of mature students in higher education has risen significantly over the last decade; recognises that the allowance is worth over ú1,000 per year to large numbers of students; further notes that mature students are likely to have significant financial responsibilities as a result of periods of employment before studying and that many are responsible for caring for dependants; appreciates that mature students are frequently amongst the most highly motivated and successful of students; further recognises that there is a vast pool of talent in society of people who missed out on the chance to enter higher education earlier in their lives who should be encouraged to undertake further study and not deterred from doing so; believes that the development of a successful modern economy depends on the continual enhancement of the skills and knowledge of the workforce and that in a socially just, progressive democracy the widest opportunities for the pursuit of lifelong learning must be available to all; deplores the fact that the withdrawal of the allowances has no educational justification whatsoever; and calls upon the Government as a matter of urgency to reverse its decision to abolish the older students' allowance.

Sponsored by:
Lord Davies of Oldham (Labour)