Bursary payments to FE students came to pound;46.4 million in the year to March, compared to pound;45.3m in 1996-97. The figures, which cover the full financial year but only the first two terms of the 1997-98 academic year, show that 26,873 students received an award. Ministers announced earlier this year that expected bursary expenditure was pound;44m for 1998-99 which would be increased by pound;3m to support the extra 8,000 students.
