HC Deb 15 January 1998 vol 304 cc292-3W
Mr. Dorrell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish his latest estimate of the revenue savings he expects to accrue as a result of the abolition of the assisted places scheme in the years(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02; and if he will list the assumptions underlying his estimates. [23172]

Mr. Byers

Our latest estimate of savings against the previous Government's published expenditure plans is £22 million in 1998–99 and £61 million in 1999–2000, with £80 million in 2000–01 and £100 million in 2001–02 assuming that the original baseline figure of £180 million for 1999–2000 is rolled forward. The estimates assume falling numbers of assisted place holders over the years in question while continuing the present arrangements for means-testing and fee-setting.