Last
updated: 12/02/08
Prisoners
Student Loans Suspended
“This
is the latest in a long line of Labour fiascos.”
The words of Shadow Universities Secretary, David Willetts, after ministers
closed a loophole which meant prisoners were able to claim over £250,
000 in student loans and maintenance grants.
It was revealed
that 250 inmates had received grants since 1998, while 91 more had been
given repayable loans.
John Denham, the
Universities Secretary, in a parliamentary statement describing the
change said: “It has been brought to ministers’ attention
that there is a long-established but unjustifiable provision in the
student support regulations that has allowed prisoners on full time
courses in higher education to receive financial support in the form
of loans and grants for maintenance.”
Educating offenders
is a government objective to reduce crime he said: “Improving
the skills of offenders, helping them to move into jobs, is likely to
help break the cycle of re-offending."
He also said: "Payments
properly made under the student support regulations will have been in
compliance with the law. However, I do not believe that it has ever
been the intention of parliament that prisoners, who are accommodated
at public expense, should receive any additional form of financial support
for maintenance. Nor do I believe that it is an appropriate use of public
money."
But Mr Willetts
said:"Prisoners are getting taxpayers' money to help with food
and rent, when they're already being fed and housed at the taxpayers'
expense.
"Prisoners
should be encouraged to learn and train whilst serving their sentence
but not with grants designed to help students with their living costs."
Mr Denham declared
that the grants and maintenance loans to prisoners would be suspended,
but there was scepticism in parliament at the fact that the payments
had gone on without being noticed for so long.
Stephen
Williams, Liberal Democrat Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills
Secretary added to Mr Willetts comments by saying: "No wonder students
are on the breadline when the money meant to support them is being paid
to serving criminals."
"Helping prisoners
learn new skills is vital but it’s madness to give them student
grants for food and rent when they’re already being looked after
at Her Majesty’s pleasure."
The Student
Loans Company has been told to assess all previous applications to check
they were legal and assess full costs.
by Daniel
Jaines
