§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students in each local education authority(a) contributed and (b) partly contributed to fees in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02; and what his estimate is for the current academic year. [99141]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 25 February 2003]In England and Wales students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
The percentage of students in England and Wales in academic years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a full or partial contribution towards the cost of their tuition is shown in the table:
All students (percentage)1 Academic Year 1999–2000 2000–012 Partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner 20 19 Full contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner 35 39 1 Contributions towards the cost of tuition are assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales for students normally domiciled in their area and studying in the UK. 2 2000–01 data are provisional. Source:
F503G survey of local education authorities
National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 18/2001 and SFR 08/2002 for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 respectively). Data are collected from the local education authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow the production of firm figures at the individual LEA level. National data for academic year 2001–02 will be available at the end of April 2003 and that for the current year 2002–03 will be published in spring 2004.