§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the planned intake of students, full-time equivalents, for degree and non-degree courses, respectively, for 1982–83 for the following institutions: (a) Queen's University, Belfast, (b) the New University of Ulster and (c) Ulster Polytechnic; and what will be the planned intake of students, full-time equivalent, for degree and non-degree courses, respectively, in 1983–84 to Queen's University, Belfast and to the new proposed university institution;
(2) what is the Government's grant for 1982–83 to (a) Queen's University, Belfast, (b) the New University of Ulster and (c) Ulster Polytechnic; and what will be the Government's grant for 1983–84 to (a) the new proposed university institution and (b) Queen's University, Belfast.
§ Mr. ScottNo intake quotas have been fixed for any of these institutions for 1982–83 or for 1983–84. The level of grants to the Northern Ireland universities is decided after advice from the University Grants Committee. No advice has yet been received for the academic year 1982–83, and no grant levels have been fixed. The universities were informed last year that the need to restrain public expenditure, and the principle of parity of funding with universities in Great Britain would mean that the level of grant in real terms would be lower in 1982–83 than in 1981–82.
For the Ulster polytechnic the Department of Education has set a cash limit of £17.78 million gross for recurrent expenditure, inclusive of tuition fee and other income, in the financial year 1982–83. Grant levels for 1983–84 have not yet been determined.