HC Deb 07 December 1998 vol 322 cc90-1W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the expected total income is from tuition fees from all undergraduates entering higher education institutions in 1998–99; what the level is of additional funding provided by his Department for higher education institutions in 1998–99; what the level of funding is per undergraduate student in 1998–99 as a result of the introduction of tuition fees and additional funding from his Department; and what the level of funding was per undergraduate student in each of the previous five years. [61813]

Mr. Mudie

Universities and colleges are expected to receive £130 million through tuition fee contributions from new full-time undergraduates in 1998–99. The funding package for 1998–99 allowed an extra £165 million to be spent on higher education, of which £129 million was for institutions, broadly equivalent to the extra fee income, and £36 million was for measures to widen access.

The published unit funding index for higher education (Departmental Report, March 1998, pp 61) is based on publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. The figures do not distinguish between undergraduates and postgraduates. The level of funding per student in cash terms for the last six years is set out in the table.

£
Financial Year1 Unit funding2(cash)
1993–94 5,015
1994–95 4,973
1995–96 4,930
1996–97 4,789
£
Financial Year1 Unit funding2(cash)
1997–98 4,785
1998– 4,923
1 In order to provide a consistent series over the period, the figures have been adjusted to take account of transfer of dual support research funds to the Office of Science and Technology in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 and the mainstreaming of continuing education students in 1995–96
2 Publicly planned fund includes grants to the HE Funding Council for England and, from 1995, the Teacher Training Agency for both recurrent and capital purposes and full-time undergraduate tuition fees paid through Local Education Authorities. In 1998–99 they include students' estimated private contributions towards the new £1,000 flat rate fee.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many non-UK EU students were expected to commence undergraduate studies at UK universities during the current academic year; and what was the estimated total amount of tuition fees to be collected from these students. [61812]

Mr. Mudie

Our forecasts have projected that around 15 thousand EU students will begin full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in England and Wales in academic year 1998–99. The expected contribution from these students towards their tuition fees totals some £7 million.