§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Republic of Ireland residents have obtained places in undergraduate courses in universities and colleges in England and Wales in the last five years for which figures are available; and what has been the estimated cost to the Exchequer.
§ Mr. WaldenThe numbers of first degree students from the Republic of Ireland on university, polytechnic and college courses in England and Wales and the estimated cost to public funds in each of the last five years were:
Number of students Cost to public funds*£ million 1980–81 124 0.3 1981–82 128 0.3 1982–83 120 0.4 1983–84 113 0.4 1984–85 149 0.5 * That is the cost to local education authorities as well as to the Exchequer.