Education Minister Daphne Caine will bring the new Student Awards Regulations for approval to Tynwald next week, calling them “a vital step” in ensuring financial support keeps pace with living costs.
The regulations, previously withdrawn for review, aim to be operational for the September academic year with Mrs Caine telling members, “we are confident that these regulations will operate as intended”.
However, Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper highlighted potential drafting errors, such as the omission of the word “charitable” before “trusts”.
The Lib Vannin leader argued this could allow wealthy individuals to qualify for full support, asking, “can the minister confirm whether this is a deliberate policy decision made by the department, or whether it is an error in the regulations”?
Principles
In response, Mrs Caine acknowledged feedback was welcomed but said she is “confident they deliver the policy principles”.
She later said that there “potentially will always be loopholes that people, some people, may seek to use in terms of gaming a system”.
Pressing for clarity, Mr Hooper said: “Either it’s operating as intended or it’s a loophole.”
He added: “If it’s a problem, it should be fixed if it’s not a problem, and the department is saying this is their intention, and this was their intention from the start, they should come out and say that.”
Mrs Caine apologised for not responding to Mr. Hooper’s feedback individually and committed to circulating it alongside departmental responses.
A final supplementary question from Julie Edge secured a commitment from Mrs Caine to also provide the policy principles ahead of next week’s debate.