HC Deb 24 April 1991 vol 189 c441W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To 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.