§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether after the introduction of variable tuition fees in 2006, those higher education institutions wishing(a) to charge fees not exceeding the current standard flat-rate fees and (b) wishing to charge top-up fees for only some of their courses will be required to conclude a (i) full and (ii) partial access agreement. [136707]
§ Alan JohnsonAs we set out in Widening participation in higher education, any higher education provider wishing to charge variable fees for any of its courses above the standard rate from 2006, will need to have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). Institutions which do not charge fees above the standard rate for any of their courses will not be required to have an access agreement.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the public expenditure impact of including the income of cohabiting partners and new spouses in the assessment of residual income for tuition fee exemption from 2004–05; and what estimate he has made of the net change in the numbers paying full tuition fees which will result from the change. [137134]
§ Alan JohnsonWe estimate that the change resulting from including the income of cohabiting partners and spouses will produce steady state savings of approximately £30 million on funding of tuition fees by 2007–08. The change is to be introduced for new students entering HE from 2004–05 onwards.
This estimate has been derived using income-data from a number of sources and is indicative. Our best indication is that it could account for an increase of approximately three percentage points in the proportion of dependent students paying full tuition fees. We cannot give a precise estimate at this stage since some families will benefit from other aspects of the new household income definition, such as the new –1000 disregard for children financially dependent on the household.
§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, from (1) how many universities he has received representations on allowing them to charge tuition fees of more than –5,000 per annum; [137158]
88W(2) which universities have indicated they wish to charge tuition fees above £3,000 a year; [137159]
(3) if he will list the universities which have made representations to him on the level of tuition fees they wish to be free to charge, broken down by level. [137160]
§ Alan JohnsonI have received numerous representations on a number of matters from universities, both by means of formal correspondence and in meetings with Vice Chancellors. The level of fee has been covered in general terms in a number of these discussions.
§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the money raised by universities from variable tuition fees he estimates will be invested in(a) teaching, (b) research, (c) bursaries for poorer students and (d) other categories if his proposals are implemented. [137211]
§ Alan JohnsonIt will be for universities to decide how to invest their income in teaching and in research. We are considering and discussing how access to higher education can be safeguarded—for example through bursaries for poorer students—at institutions which decide to charge tuition fees above the standard rate.
§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities he estimates will charge the proposed maximum annual tuition fee in respect of courses covering up to(a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent., (f) 60 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 80 per cent., (i) 90 per cent. and (j) 100 per cent. of their projected student intake within (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years and (iv) more than three years of the implementation of his proposals. [137217]
§ Alan JohnsonIt will be up to universities themselves to set their fee levels, provided that they have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access.