§ Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the amount of his Department's financial support for students in higher education in 1986–87; how this compares in real terms with spending in 1978–79 and with current financial support for students in European Economic Community countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenIt is estimated that local education authorities in England and Wales will spend about £530 million in the financial year 1986–87 on full-value maintenance awards (which are predominantly for students in higher education). In addition, expenditure on postgraduate maintenance awards is expected to amount to nearly £60 million. The total of nearly £590 million represents an estimated reduction of about 10 per cent. in real terms on the corresponding figure for 1978–79. The latest information available in respect of international comparisons was given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 20 January at columns67–68. This showed that the United Kingdom devotes a much higher proportion of its GNP to student support than other major developed countries.