§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will estimate, in 1995–96 prices, the level of Government expenditure on higher education for(a) 1990–91, (b)1991–92, (c)1992–93, (d)1993–94, (e)1994–95, (f)1995–96, (g)1996–97, (h)1997–98, (i) 1998–99, (j)1999–2000 and (k)2000–01, using (i) the plans as set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98" including the estimates of the gross domestic product deflators contained therein, and (ii) the new estimates of the GDP deflator announced in the Budget and any additional moneys available as a consequence of the policy changes announced in his statement of 23 July; [11590]
(2) what is his estimate of the extra Government expenditure available for higher education as a consequence of his statement of 23 July for (a)1997–98, (b)1998–99, (c)1999–2000 and(d) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [11591]
495W
§ Dr. HowellsThe table shows the level of Government expenditure on higher education institutions for the period from 1990–91 to 1999–2000, in line with the expenditure plans announced in the 1996 Budget which were not changed in the July 1997 Budget. No figures are available for 2000–2001 at this stage.
In his statement of 23 July on the Government's preferred approach to the future funding of higher
Public Funding for Higher Education in England Financial year 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 November 1996 GDP deflator 7.99% 6.41% 4.21% 2.89% 1.77% 2.53% 2.50% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% June 1997 GDP deflator 8.00% 6.38% 4.20% 2.91% 1.51% 2.75% 2.76% 2.75% 2.75% 2.50% HEFCE sector grants £2,711m £2,539m £2,664m £2,890m £3,538m £3,734m £3,561m £3,609m £3,573m £3,489m TTA grants — — — — — £116m £175m £179m £175m £167m Tuition fee income £555m £l,140m £l,349m £l,498m £l,142m £967m £991m £988m £l,047m £l,047m Total funding in cash terms1 £3,266m £3,679m £4,013m £4,388m £4,680m £4,817m £4,727m £4,776m £4,796m £4,703m Total funding in real terms (November 1996 deflator)2 £3,986m £4,219m £4,416m £4,693m £4,918m £4,937m £4,727m £4,682m £4,609m £4,432m Total funding in real terms(June 1997 deflator)3 £3,993m £4,228m £4,426m £4,703m £4,941m £4,950m £4,727m £4,648m £4,542m £4,346m 1 Adjust to allow for the dual support transfer to the Office for Science and Technology over the period 1992–93 to 1994–95 2 1996–97 prices 3 1996–97prices
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate on the present accounting basis, of the(a)additional expenditure on higher education and (b)additional revenues accruing to the Exchequer in (1)1998–99, (2)1999–2000 and (3)2000–01, as a consequence of the proposed changes to higher education tuition payments and student maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [11188]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The following table shows the estimated cost of extending loans and the savings associated with the replacement of grants with loans and the introduction of tuition fees under the Government's preferred approach to the future funding of higher education announced by my right hon. Friend on 23 July. Figures are for financial years at 1995–96 prices. The net savings are therefore notional and have been derived independently of current expenditure plans. They are also dependent on the phasing of the introduction of the new loans arrangements.
align="right">£million 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Additional loans expenditure1 (400) (750) (1,100) Grants savings 250 600 850 Tuition fee savings 150 250 400 Net savings 0 100 150 1Costs are shown in brackets
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of student numbers in higher education for(a) 1990–91, (b)1991–92, (c)1992–93, (d)1993–94, (e)1994–95, (f)1995–96, (g)1996–97, (h)1997–1998, (i)1998–99, (j)1999–2000 and (k)2000–01. [11622]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government's estimates of higher education student numbers in England remain for the time being as shown in the table. No projections have yet been made for the year 2000–01.
496Weducation, my right hon. Friend said savings would be used to improve quality, standards and opportunity for all in further and higher education. I refer the hon. Member to the following answer which sets out our estimates of the net savings associated with this preferred approach. Net savings would start to accrue in 1999–2000. We have not yet taken decisions about extra Government expenditure for higher education in the light of these savings.
Home and EU students (full-time equivalents, thousands) by academic year: Number 1990–91 actual 673 1991–92 actual 756 1992–93 actual 853 1993–94 actual 942 1994–95 actual 1,000 1995–96 provisional 1,041 1996–97 projected 1,046 1997–98 projected 1,042 1998–99 projected 1.058 1999–2000 projected 1,060 We shall review student numbers for future years in the light of our comprehensive spending review and of the recently published report of the national committee of inquiry into higher education under Sir Ron Dearing, whose aim of widening participation we support.