Last
updated: 08/04/08
Prisoners
got more!
In
a shocking development the government has announced that almost three
times as much money as previously thought has been paid in student loans
and grants to prisoners.
In March, The National Student reported that an estimated £250,000
had been paid out to inmates, but now, the Innovation, Universities
and Skills Secretary John Denham has put the total at £730,000.
Despite fewer prisoners having received money than originally thought
- 154 not the estimated 250 - the final figure is massively larger than
first predicted.
Denham has now ended the “long established but unjustifiable provision”.
In a written Commons statement, he said the review by the Student Loans
Company had found that 154 prisoners had received £560,000 in
maintenance loans and £160,000 in grants.
He said 44 prisoners had received money during the current academic
year.
“At the time I made my statement on February 7, preliminary investigations
suggested that approximately 250 prisoners had received up to £250,000
in maintenance grants since 1998.”
“There is also evidence of some maintenance payments made to prisoners
between 1990 and 1998,” Denham added.
“I
will be considering the future management of financial support for offenders
in higher education, based
on recommendations from my department and the Ministry of Justice.”
by
Mark Wright
