Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 128W, on disabled students' allowances, for what reason his Department did not make an estimate of the number of students who will no longer be eligible for disabled students' allowance before deciding to implement the proposed changes.

There is a range of support available under the four Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) (specialist equipment, non-medical help, travel, general). It is expected that students will in future receive a different balance of support between HEI reasonable adjustments and funding via DSAs. For example, some may receive all of their non-medical help support via their HEI rather than via DSAs, but still receive some DSA-funded support towards specialist equipment or travel costs.

Data on all of the different types of support provided to individual students under DSAs are not readily available under current record keeping arrangements. The Equality Analysis will contain an estimate of the number of students who would not be eligible for any support under DSAs following any changes. I will have due regard to this Analysis before regulations are laid before the House.