§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the Government have spent(a) per student and (b) per graduate of higher education in each year since 1978–79 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms, indexed so that 1978–79 equals 100.
§ Mr. Alan Howarth[holding answer 22 April 1991]: Estimated public funding per student is shown for those higher education students at universities in Great Britain and polytechnics and colleges in England. Data are given for the financial years 1980–81 through to 1988–89. Data on cost per graduate are available from 1981–82 and are for higher education students in universities and polytechnics only for academic years.
Higher education: public funding per full-lime equivalent student Cash Real index (£) 1980–81 3,490 100 1981–82 3,700 97 1982–83 3,960 97 1983–84 4,040 94 1984–85 4,150 92 1985–86 4,240 89 1986–87 4,360 89 1987–88 4,600 89 1988–89 4,840 87
Higher education: cost per graduate (first degrees only) Cash Real index (£) 1981–82 9,900 100 1982–83 10,300 98 1983–84 11,000 100 1984–85 11,500 99 1985–86 12,100 99 1986–87 12,800 101 1987–88 13,600 102 1988–89 13,800 96 The unit public funding figures are calculated by dividing estimated aggregate expenditure by financial year full-time equivalent student numbers.
The cost per graduate estimates reflect both recurrent and equipment costs. They exclude research and superannuation costs. The figures are necessarily approximate. Account is taken of average course length and the costs associated with those who fail to complete their course successfully. The real-terms indices have been calculated using the gross domestic product deflator.