Lib Dem spokesman calls for head of Student Loans Company to resign

11.32.00am GMT Thu 5th Nov 2009

Dr Steve Goddard, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Oxford East

Dr Steve Goddard, a university lecturer and Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Oxford East constituency has called for the head of the Student Loans Company (SLC) to resign as figures reveal that only 20% of Disabled Students' Allowances for the current academic year have been processed.

Dr Goddard said: "Students have been badly let down by the SLC. So many students have been left with no money to support their studies, and when they have contacted the SLC have not been helped. I know from my work as a lecturer how tough some things are for students. Some students are missing meals because they can't afford to eat. This is totally unacceptable. The head of the SLC needs to resign and let someone else clear up this mess, and quickly"

Liberal Youth (the Liberal Democrats student wing) and the NUS have also called for the resignation of the SLC in recent weeks.

The Government could not answer Lib Dem peer Lord Addington when he asked who would take responsibility for the thousands of disabled students still waiting for essential funding. The Student Loans Company say that fewer than 20% of Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) applications received for 2009-10 have been fully processed. Applications for the next funding cycle 2010-11 will start arriving this month [November 2009] further adding to the backlog.

Lord Addington commented: "The Students Loans Company has made a real mess of Disabled Student Allowances (DSAs). The processing of DSA applications has been a catalogue of failure and incompetence leaving thousands of students struggling to cope. It's a scandal that disabled students who have worked hard to secure a place at university are not getting the support they need. Many are still waiting for funding to buy special equipment so they can do their course."