HC Deb 21 December 1984 vol 70 cc349-50W
Mr. Fairbairn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the average cost to public funds of a university degree course in Scotland;

(2) what is the average cost to public funds of a university PhD course in Scotland;

(3) what is the average cost to public funds of a university degree course;

(4) what is the average cost to public funds of a university PhD course.

University first degrees awarded: 1983
PPE* Philosophy Economics All full-time and sand-wich under-graduate level students 1983–84
Number Per cent.† Number Per cent.† Number Per cent.†
Great Britain 288 0.4 457 0.6 2,125 2.9 291,722
Scotland — — 49 0.5 220 2.2 44,849
* Philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford and Keele Universities
† Percentages are of all first degrees awarded in 1983

Information about the number of degrees in politics is not readily available.

Mr. Brooke

It is not possible to identify separately the costs of courses for undergraduates and postgraduates, nor to identify a precise share of the cost met from public funds. Approximate average annual institutional expenditure per student in the academic year 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available, was as follows:

Universities £
England and Wales 4,670
Scotland 4,580
Great Britain 4,660

These figures include expenditure on research from general income, but exclude capital expenditure and expenditure on pensions payable from general income. About 95 per cent. of the expenditure for home students underlying the unit costs comes from public funds. In the academic year 1983–84, 70 per cent. of all full-time home undergraduates in Scotland were on courses of 4 years or more, compared with 28 per cent. in England and Wales. The average length of undergraduate courses in England and Wales is 3.4 years and in Scotland is 3.8 years.

Mr. Fairbairn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many students obtained degrees in politics, philosophy and economics at universities in 1983; and what proportion this represented of the total university student population;

(2) how many students obtained degrees in politics, philosophy and economics at Scottish universities in 1983; and what proportion this represented of the total university student population in Scotland.

Mr. Brooke

The available information is as follows: