HC Deb 21 May 1992 vol 208 cc484-5
4. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of students in higher education; and what the figure was in 1978–79.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Jeremy Hanley)

The figure for 1978–79 was 16,864. In the 1990–91 academic year, the number of students undertaking higher education in Northern Ireland was 30,293. That is an 80 per cent. increase. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of participation in higher education in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Marshall

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his reappointment to the Northern Ireland Office. Does he agree that the dramatic increase of 80 per cent. underlines the Government's commitment to further and higher education? May we have an assurance that quality will not be sacrificed in the continued expansion of higher education?

Mr. Hanley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his words. The higher education participation rate in Northern Ireland of 27 per cent. compares with 19 per cent. in Great Britain. It is forecast to increase still further to 35 per cent. in 1995–96. That shows the Government's success in meeting the high demand. It is right that quality assurance and quality assessment measures must match the demand for higher education. That is why legislation to match the requirement for quality which is already here in Great Britain will be introduced in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Beggs

To what extent is the increased enrolment due to the steady growth in numbers of students from the Irish Republic? What is the cost to British taxpayers of paying tuition fees for that group? To what extent, if any, is the British taxpayer reimbursed from Europe? Can the Minister give us an assurance that Northern Ireland students are not losing places as standards for entry are increased as a means of selecting students for places in higher education in Northern Ireland?

Mr. Hanley

I assure the hon. Gentleman that students from Northern Ireland are not losing places for the reason that he gave. There is competition, but the increase that I described shows that the demand is being matched by places.

In answer to the hon. Gentleman's first question, this year approximately 1,900 students from the Republic of Ireland are studying in Northern Ireland, as opposed to 1,800 students last year. Under European Community rules, the statutory grants are met by the taxpayers of the country in which the education takes place. I stress that it is statutory grants which are paid. Statutory grants do not exist in the Republic of Ireland; all grants are discretionary, so there is a disparity between the way in which grants are paid in the two countries. I am currently examining that matter.

Mr. Stott

The Minister may well be right when he says that the number of students in Northern Ireland has increased. I should be surprised if that were not the case. A combination of Government policies means that students in Northern Ireland face severe financial hardship. Is the Minister aware that the citizens advice bureau in Belfast published a report last year which highlighted the real difficulties facing students in Northern Ireland? The report shows that the withdrawal of benefits and the falling real value of student grants have combined with a shortage of summer jobs and high levels of unemployment to make students face severe financial difficulties. If the Minister has not read the report, will he please do so? Will he act on its recommendations, because there is a serious problem in student finance in Northern Ireland?

Mr. Hanley

I have indeed read the report and I am considering what it says. There is no evidence at the moment to suggest that the new system of support has had a detrimental effect on participation rates or increased withdrawals from courses. On the contrary, applications and new admissions in Northern Ireland have reached record levels in the current academic year. I admit, however, that we must look at the whole system of student support in the light of conditions in Northern Ireland; but I am satisfied that no student is suffering from having to withdraw from a course except in very exceptional circumstances.