HC Deb 05 December 1997 vol 302 c387W
Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students are currently studying for higher national diplomas; and what percentage of these students are receiving free tuition. [17312]

Dr. Howells

The latest data are given in the following table.

Major source of tuition fees for HND students in HEIs in the UK 1996–97
Percentages
Major source of tuition fees Full-time Part-time
No award or financial backing (pays own fees) 5.0 50.0
LEA/SOEID/DENI award1 90.4 1.6
Institutional waiver/no fees 0.3 3.8
Other sources of support2 1.6 37.0
Not known 2.7 7.7
Total 100.0 100.0
Total (numbers) 50,346 2,799
1 Awards from English and Welsh local education authorities, Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, and Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
2 Including Research Councils, other government departments, overseas sources, UK industry and commerce, and students' employers.