by René Lavanchy

THE Government was forced this week to deny it had massaged statistics for repayment of the student loans it introduced, after higher education minister Bill Rammell gave a figure over 100,000 smaller than the official estimate, Tribune can reveal.

Last month, Mr Rammell responded to a parliamentary question by saying that 384,300 graduates due to pay back their loans – who left university up to seven years ago – were still not earning above the £15,000 threshold.

But the Student Loans Company, which administers loans for the Government, announced in June that they expected 536,400 graduates to fall into the category this year – just under half the 1.2 million who have loans outstanding since 1998.

A spokesperson for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said the higher figure referred to graduates who had repaid some debt because their income had fluctuated. But those people ended the tax year having earned less than the threshold.

The Government defends loans by saying that graduates earn up to £120,000 more than adults with two A-Levels.