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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Prisoners received student grants | Prisoners received student grants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ministers have closed a loophole which allowed inmates to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in student loans and maintenance grants. | Ministers have closed a loophole which allowed inmates to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in student loans and maintenance grants. |
| Prisoners in England have received a total of £250,000 in maintenance grants since 1998 even though they do not have to pay for board and lodging. | Prisoners in England have received a total of £250,000 in maintenance grants since 1998 even though they do not have to pay for board and lodging. |
| Last year 91 inmates received £250,000 in loans which are repayable and £120,000 in grants which are not. | Last year 91 inmates received £250,000 in loans which are repayable and £120,000 in grants which are not. |
| Universities Secretary John Denham says inmates' education is still an aim. | Universities Secretary John Denham says inmates' education is still an aim. |
| He has suspended all student support payments to prisoners with immediate effect. | He has suspended all student support payments to prisoners with immediate effect. |
| The suspension relates only to England but Mr Denham has written to the devolved authorities "in case there are implications for them". | The suspension relates only to England but Mr Denham has written to the devolved authorities "in case there are implications for them". |
| 'Not appropriate' | 'Not appropriate' |
| In a statement to MPs, Mr Denham said: "Payments properly made under the student support regulations will have been in compliance with the law. | In a statement to MPs, Mr Denham 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. | "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." | "Nor do I believe that it is an appropriate use of public money." |
| At the moment it is not clear how much prisoners have been allowed to borrow in student loans - or if any of the money has been repaid. | At the moment it is not clear how much prisoners have been allowed to borrow in student loans - or if any of the money has been repaid. |
| Prisoners are getting taxpayers¿ money to help with food and rent, when they¿re already being fed and housed at the taxpayers¿ expense David Willetts, Conservatives | |
| Mr Denham said he had asked the Student Loans Company to investigate further so ministers could provide "a complete estimate" of the costs. | Mr Denham said he had asked the Student Loans Company to investigate further so ministers could provide "a complete estimate" of the costs. |
| Educating offenders remained a government objective, he said. | Educating offenders remained a government objective, he said. |
| "The education of offenders is an integral part of strategies to reduce re-offending. | "The education of offenders is an integral part of strategies to reduce re-offending. |
| "Improving the skills of offenders, helping them to move into jobs, is likely to help break the cycle of re-offending." | "Improving the skills of offenders, helping them to move into jobs, is likely to help break the cycle of re-offending." |
| Shadow universities secretary David Willetts said: "This is the latest in a long line of Labour fiascos. Students struggling to make ends meet will rightly be outraged. | Shadow universities secretary David Willetts said: "This is the latest in a long line of Labour fiascos. Students struggling to make ends meet will rightly be outraged. |
| "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." | "Prisoners should be encouraged to learn and train whilst serving their sentence but not with grants designed to help students with their living costs." |
| Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said: "No wonder students are on the breadline when the money meant to support them is being paid to serving criminals. | Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said: "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." |