§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what projections have been made of full-time equivalent student numbers in further education up to the year 2000, and of the effects on public expenditure.
§ Mr. EggarThe Department's latest statistical projection to the year 2000, as at September 1991, is as follows:
Projection of home and EC full-time equivalent student numbers in FE in England (000s) Number 1990 696 1991 705 1992 722 1993 742 1994 779 1995 847 1996 896 1997 938 1998 972 1999 1,009 2000 1,050 This represents an increase of 50.9 per cent. between 1990 and 2000. The statistical projection is the central variant of a range. A range of statistical projections have been prepared with high, low, and central variants, reflecting the uncertainty of forecasting in this area.
Expenditure for further education will be considered in the annual surveys of public expenditure, in the light of student numbers and other pressures, but also taking account of the scope for efficiency savings.