HC Deb 25 February 1985 vol 74 cc13-4W
Mr. Sackville

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations he has issued about fees for home students on courses of further and higher education in the academic year 1985–86.

Sir Keith Joseph

For the academic year 1985–86 I have recommended the following fee levels for home students and for students from other European Community countries. Fees for 1984–85 are shown in brackets.

£ £
Postgraduate courses 1,632 (1,569)
First degree and diploma courses 520 (500)

These recommended fees represent 4 per cent. increase over those for 1984–85.

Other fees for home and European Community students are the responsibility of the local education authorities. I understand that the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended fees for 1985–86 as follows. Fees for 1984–85 are shown in brackets.

*Advanced Further Education Non-Advanced Further Education
£ £ £ £
Full-time 520 (500) 321 (309)
Sandwich/block release (weekly rate) 14.50 (13.90) 9.00 (8.60)
Part-time per course hour 0.50 (0.47) 0.30 (0.28)
Part-time annual fee for one session per week £52.00 (50.00) 32.00 (31.00)
* Other than first degree and diploma courses.

Mr. Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to issue recommendations about fees for students from outside the European Community in 1985–86.

Sir Keith Joseph

The Government's policy is that students who began their courses on or after 1 September 1980 should pay fees that cover the cost of their education. The Government no longer imposes minimum fees on authorities or institutions, which are therefore free to determine the fee to be charged in accordance with the Government's policy, and in the light of their own circumstances.

I understand, however, that the University Grants Committee and the Council of Local Education Authorities have issued recommendations to universities and local education authorities respectively on the minimum fees that should be charged in 1985–86 to students paying the overseas rate of fee who began their courses on or after 1 September 1980. Their recommendations are as follows:

Universities

Such fees as universities consider necessary to meet the cost of the education in question, subject to the following minima. Recommended minima for 1984–85 are shown in brackets.

1985–86 £ (1984–85) £
Arts courses 3,310 (3,150)
Science courses 4,350 (4,150)
Clinical courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 8,050 (7,650)

Maintained and assisted institutions

Such fees as the local authorities and institutions consider necessary to meet the cost of the education in question, subject to the following minima. Recommended minima for 1984–85 are shown in brackets.

1985.86 £ (1984.85) £
Advanced courses 3,310 (3,180)
Non-advanced courses 1,820 (1,750)

Any students still on courses that began before 1 September 1980 are still entitled to a subsidised rate of fee. Maximum fees for such students were specified in the Education (Fees and Awards) (Amendment) Regulations 1984. As there will be few, if any, such students left by 1985–86, I have decided not to revise the fee maxima further. They will therefore remain as follows:

£
Postgraduate courses 2,148
First degree and other advanced courses 1,653
Full-time non-advanced courses 885