§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the level of funding for universities and polytechnics in 1979 and 1989, respectively(a) as a percentage of gross domestic product, (b) in real terms and (c) in terms of resources per student at constant prices, together with the numbers of students, other than from overseas.
§ Mr. Alan Howarth[holding answer 14 December 1990]: Consistent information in the form requested is not available for years prior to 1980–81. Public funding of universities in Great Britain from recurrent grant and home and EC student tuition fees and local authority expenditure on higher education (net of estimated overseas student fees and miscellaneous other income) in England have increased from £2,821 million in financial year 1980–81 to £2,968 million in 1988–89, both at 1989–90 prices, 0.7 per cent. and 0.6 per cent. of GDP respectively. Over that period, full-time equivalent home and EC student numbers increased from 469,200 to 578,900 and funding per student reflected efficiency gains by decreasing from £6,012 to £5,127, again at 1989–90 prices.