§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he collates on possible changes to the pattern of student enrolment paying(a) controlled undergraduate fees and (b) undergraduate fees as a result of his student support proposals. [129991]
§ Alan JohnsonWe do not have any specific estimates of the possible change to the pattern of student number enrolments as we do not know which universities will be charging the variable fees and which will be charging controlled fees. However initial analysis suggests that we can expect enrolment to continue to rise over the course of the decade. We continue to monitor enrolment through a number of sources such as UCAS, HESA and HEFCE.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has collated on the opportunity costs incurred by full-time students in higher education. [129729]
§ Alan JohnsonThe opportunity costs incurred by students participating in higher education (HE) comprise the earnings they could have earned had they not been studying net of the income they receive through working during their studies. Both these income streams vary between individuals.
Individuals with two or more A-levels who have been in the labour market for up to three years have average net annual earnings of around £8,3001. Over a three year, full—time HE course this would be equivalent to around £25,000 in foregone earnings.
However, many students also work while studying. Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) data indicate that full-time first-degree students typically earn around £5,0002 over the duration of their course. This means that an overall opportunity cost for full-time first-degree students who enter with two or more A-levels is on average around £20,000. However, this average figure will vary widely between individual students.
1Based on spring 2003 LFS data for the UK, covering men and women aged 18–24 whose highest qualifications are two or more A-levels. Individuals are assumed to be UK employees who have been in the labour market for up to three years. Individuals are assumed to work 52 weeks per year.2Based on SIES 1998/99 data for full-time first-degree UK students aged 18 to 24-years-old. Net earnings are up-rated by the average earnings index in order to get equivalent spring 2003 data.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Office for Fair Access will share(a) chief executives and (b) accounting officers. [129732]
§ Alan JohnsonAs we set out in "Widening Participation in Higher Education", the Office for Fair Access will be separate from but supported by HEFCE. It will exercise its independent judgment in considering1146W gand monitoring access agreements. We will give more detail on its organisation when we introduce the Higher Education Bill.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the remission of tuition fees for higher education by British public sector organisations has been approved as(a) a state aid under European legislation and (b) non-taxable under British revenue law. [129733]
§ Alan JohnsonState aid (as defined under Article 87(1) of the European Treaty) does not apply to educational functions such as the remission of tuition fees for higher education students. There is therefore no need for approval.
No special approvals are required for the treatment of fee remission arrangements. Existing tax law provides methods by which such arrangements can be exempt from tax, depending on the circumstances.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for obtaining information on(a) students' financial situation, (b) living conditions and (c) academic experiences from interested bodies, with particular reference to the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the National Union of Students, and for disseminating information between these bodies. [129764]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department has conducted a Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) for the 2002/03 academic year. It will provide up-to-date information on the finances and living arrangements for full-time, young, single, childless, English and Welsh domiciled students who are undertaking an undergraduate degree at publicly funded higher education institutions in England and Wales in 2002/03. The National Union of Students (NUS) and Universities UK (UUK) are represented on the SIES steering committee.
The new National Student Survey, which is being developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, will collect students' views on their learning experiences from 2004 onwards. The Council is working with key sector partners, including the National Union of Students, to develop the Survey. The results of the Survey will be publicly available.