FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OLDER STUDENTS

Early day motion 605, tabled 27 January 2005 by Gordon Marsden (Labour). Signed by 55 members.

That this House welcomes the work of the Government's working group on age discrimination in access to student loans and applauds the efforts of the National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education and Age Concern to highlight this issue; recognises the difficulties that the upper age limit of 54 on student loans causes to many older students; believes that maintaining access to education for older learners should be a key part of the Government's commitment to lifelong learning; and urges the Government to consider carefully the recommendation of the working group and continue to open up access to education for future generations of older students, thus recognising their key value and role in 21st century society.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 4, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.