§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implementation of the proposed changes in financing student unions.
§ Dr. BoysonThe new system to be introduced in the academic year 1981–82 will be as stated by my right hon. and learned Friend on 5 February 1980.
In order to implement that system and, in particular, to ensure that the same amount of money will be made available nationally for student unions next year as would be available if the present system were to continue and that no additional cost falls on the taxpayer, we decided that tuition fees should be increased by the overall average of what student union subscriptions would be in 1981–82 if the present system were to continue. That average, for students on full-time courses of higher education, is 121W estimated to be £44 for the current academic year. It will be adjusted by an appropriate percentage to give the actual increase in tuition fees proposed for 1981–82.
Financial provision for that year for the maintained sector and for universities will be adjusted to compensate for subscription levels being generally below average in the maintained sector and generally above average in the universities.