Citation, commencement and application

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Grant) (Financial Support for Students) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 1st September 2001.

(2) These Regulations apply only in relation to England.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“approved” means approved by the Secretary of State;

“governing body” in relation to a relevant institution includes any person or body of persons responsible for the management of the institution;

“relevant course” means a prescribed course of higher education within the meaning of section 65 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992( 2 ); and

“relevant institution” means an institution within the further education sector within the meaning of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Grants to relevant institutions

3. —(1) The Secretary of State may pay grant to the governing body of a relevant institution in respect of approved expenditure incurred or to be incurred by them in providing financial support (whether by waiving fees, providing funds, or otherwise) to students at the institution for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2).

(2) Those purposes are facilitating a student’s access to, or his continued attendance at, a relevant course at the institution.

Conditions

4. The making of a payment shall be dependent on the fulfilment of such conditions as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

Repayment

5. Where in the opinion of the Secretary of State any information or assumption on the basis of which grant has been paid is incorrect, the governing body to whom the grant was paid shall at the request of the Secretary of State repay such sums not exceeding the total grant as the Secretary of State may request.