§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the future of student funding.
§ Mr. FormanMy right hon. Friend has received various representations on this matter. Public funding for higher education is at record levels. For the third year running, public expenditure plans provide for a year-on-year increase of about 10 per cent. Full-year student support from grant and loan is now over 30 per cent. higher than the grant alone two years ago. Our reforms have led to a dramatic expansion of higher education. Ten years ago,364W only one in eight young people entered higher education. it is now nearly one in four. We expect it to be one in three by the year 2000.