HC Deb 14 May 1986 vol 97 cc457-9W
Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in tabular form the percentage of total public expenditure and the percentage of gross domestic product spent on higher education in the United Kingdom in every year from 1970 to the latest available date and provide comparable figures for France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States of America.

Mr. Walden

The following table shows such data that are available and can be provided without disproportionate cost.

Country Year Current expenditure on higher education as a percentage of:
Gross national product Current public expenditure
France 11970 0.54 ..
11975 0.44 ..
21980 0.63 ..
West Germany 1970 0.46 1.38
1975 0.72 1.65
1980 0.62 1.43
Italy 1970 0.33 1.52

of salaries for (a) professors, (b) readers, (c) senior lecturers and (d) lecturers at British universities and at public sector institutions, respectively, over the period 1970, 1974, 1979, and at the latest available date.

Mr. Walden

Information in the precise form requested is not available. Movements of the maximum points of the relevant salary scales, (and of the average salaries of university professors) are as follows:

Country Year Current expenditure on higher education as a percentage of:
Gross national product Current public expenditure
1975 0.55 1.68
1979 0.40 0.97
Japan3 1970 0.37 41.88
1975 0.40 41.63
1980 0.44 41.47
1982 0.41 41.38
Canada 1970 2.08 45.61
1975 2.02 44.64
1980 1.95 44.39
1981 1.94 44.25
United States of America 1970 1.65 8.38
1975 1.89 9.69
1977 1.75 9.03
United Kingdom 51971 1.07 3.13
1975 1.15 3.14
1980 11.l 2.83
1982 1.09 2.63
1983 1.07 2.57
.. not available
1 Ministries of Education and Universities only
2 Metropolitan France
3 From 1975, excludes public subsidies to private education

4 Higher education current expenditure as a percentage of Total Government Expenditure (including capital)

5 Figures for 1970 not available

Sources: Department of Education and Science UNESCO Statistical Yearbook. 1985 (mainly) 'Annual Abstract of Statistics' series