HC Deb 11 December 1997 vol 302 c651W
18. Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he plans to take in respect of those students who fail to meet their payments on tuition fees; and what provision he has made for this. [18765]

Dr. Howells

It will be for universities and colleges to decide what action to take if students fail to make the private contributions to undergraduate tuition fees, just as they have to for part-time, postgraduate and overseas students. The higher education funding plans for 1998–99 assumed that institutions in England would collect £130 million from private contributions to fees. This figure allowed for costs of some 5 per cent. for collection and any default.

30. Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion of students who will have their tuition fees waived. [18780]

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the proportion of students who will have their tuition fees waived. [19187]

Dr. Howells

We have estimated that, under the new arrangements, about 30 per cent. of students, where parental income is taken into account, will make no contribution to the cost of their tuition.