Assisted Places (Hansard, 21 May 1990)

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on the assisted places scheme and for how many pupils in each year of the scheme from its inception, to the latest available year in cash, and in constant prices and with an index related to the expenditure in constant prices where the first year equals 100.

§ Mr. MacGregor
The information requested is as shown in the table and relates to England only. The figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Year Pupil numbers (academic year) Cash cost (£ million) Real cost (£ million) Real cost Index

1981–82 4,185 3.0 3.0 100

1982–83 8,616 8.7 8.1 271

1983–84 13,102 15.0 13.4 446

1984–85 17,386 22.2 18.9 629

1985–86 21,412 29.6 23.7 791

1986–87 24,478 37.9 29.5 982

1987–88 26,899 46.0 34.4 1,146

1988–89 27,083 50.9 35.9 1,196

1989–90 27,008 56.5 36.9 1,232

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the average cost per pupil of an assisted place in each year of the scheme from its inception, to the latest available year.

§ Mr. MacGregor
The average cost per pupil of an assisted place is as follows:

Financial Cost per pupil

year £

1981–82 1,098

1982–83 1,267

1983–84 1,303

45W

Financial Cost per pupil

year £

1984–85 1,482

1985–86 1,603

1986–87 1,759

1987–88 1,952

1988–89 2,121

1989–90 2,329

¹ Subject to final adjustment.

§ Mr. Straw
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for each year of the scheme since its inception to the latest available year the number of assisted places available, the number taken up, and the percentage of those taken up which were free places.

§ Mr. MacGregor
The information requested is given in the table:

Academic year Places available Places taken up Percentage of free places

1981–82 5,446 4,185 37

1982–83 11,058 8,616 37

1983–84 15,866 13,102 36

1984–85 20,699 17,386 38

1985–86 25,210 21,412 37

1986–87 29,295 24,478 36

1987–88 33,228 26,899 34

1988–89 33,217 27,083 32

1989–90 33,268 27,008 31

Year	Pupil numbers (academic year)	Cash cost (£ million)	Real cost (£ million)	Real cost Index
1981–82	4,185	3.0	3.0	100
1982–83	8,616	8.7	8.1	271
1983–84	13,102	15.0	13.4	446
1984–85	17,386	22.2	18.9	629
1985–86	21,412	29.6	23.7	791
1986–87	24,478	37.9	29.5	982
1987–88	26,899	46.0	34.4	1,146
1988–89	27,083	50.9	35.9	1,196
1989–90	27,008	56.5	36.9	1,232

Financial	Cost per pupil
year	£
1981–82	1,098
1982–83	1,267
1983–84	1,303

Academic year	Places available	Places taken up	Percentage of free places
1981–82	5,446	4,185	37
1982–83	11,058	8,616	37
1983–84	15,866	13,102	36
1984–85	20,699	17,386	38
1985–86	25,210	21,412	37
1986–87	29,295	24,478	36
1987–88	33,228	26,899	34
1988–89	33,217	27,083	32
1989–90	33,268	27,008	31