Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Education (Assisted Places) (Incidental Expenses) Regulations 1997 (“the 1997 Regulations”).

The Regulations apply in relation to relevant questions that arise in respect of the 2006/07 school year and which have not been determined at the date on which these Regulations come into force. A relevant question is a question as to a parent’s entitlement under the 1997 Regulations to a grant in respect of incidental expenses in connection with the education of an assisted pupil at in independent school.

These Regulations amend the means test (set out in regulation 2 of the 1997 Regulations) for determining eligibility to uniform grant and increase the amount of such grant payable in respect of clothing expenditure incurred in relation to the school year 2006/07. £83 (instead of £81 as previously) is payable where the relevant income does not exceed £12,470 (instead of £12,182) and £43 (instead of £42) is payable where the relevant income exceeds that figure but does not exceed £13,431 (instead of £13,116).

These Regulations also amend the means test (set out in regulation 4 of the 1997 Regulations) for determining eligibility to travel grant, and increase the amount of grant payable in respect of school travel expenditure in relation to the school year 2006/07. Where the relevant income does not exceed £12,483 (instead of £12,195), any travel grant shall be an amount equal to the school travel expenditure to which it relates. Where the relevant income exceeds that sum, the travel grant will be the amount, if any, by which the school travel expenditure to which it relates exceeds an amount (rounded down to the nearest multiple of £3) equal to one-twelfth of that part of the relevant income which exceeds £12,304 (instead of £12,016).