§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be raised for higher education in(a) 2006 and (b) each year to 2020 under (i) the present arrangements and (ii) his proposals on top-up fees. [148709]
§ Alan JohnsonThe latest available estimates for fee income under the existing arrangements are for 2003/04: the total income from the standard fee of £1,125 is estimated at £847 million. Information on the additional income from variables fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the extra income from fees will vary according to the decisions that higher education institutions take on the level of fee, both when variable 959W fees are introduced, and as universities' fee policies evolve in subsequent years. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.