§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates will be the net cost to local authorities as a whole, through reduction in fee income, of the halving of fees for courses subject to mandatory awards; and by what means this will be made good to those authorities which are at present net contributors to the advanced further education pool.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe cost to local authorities as a whole of the halving of fees for home and EC students for courses subject to mandatory awards is estimated to be some £50 million in 1982–83 net of the consequential reductions in local authorities contribution to mandatory awards and discretionary awards. All authorities have had the increase in their contributions to the advanced further education pool compensated for by corresponding additions to their grant-related expenditure.