§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money Her Majesty's Government expect to save by cutting 20,000 student places in 228W universities; what consideration he gave in deciding on the level of cuts in university funding to the social implications of the reduction in opportunity to school leavers seeking university places; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOn the assumption that the universities will bear a proportionate share of the reduction in current expenditure on higher education generally, the provision for universities' current expenditure underlying Cmnd 8175—including the Open University and other institutions financed from the universities Vote—implies savings at 1980 survey prices of £40 million in 1981–82, £74 million in 1982–83 and £98 million in 1983–84 compared with provision in 1980–81. Some of this saving is attributable to the withdrawal of the subsidy for overseas students.
My right hon. Friend is aware of the social implications of the reduction in opportunity for school leavers, and regrets this consequence of the urgent need to restrain public expenditure in the interests of economic recovery.