HC Deb 14 May 1991 vol 191 c83W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support has been given to the Open university in Scotland and its students in each of the past eight years.

Mr. Alan Howarth

Grants from the Department are not given specifically to fund the Open university's activities in Scotland, but to support the university's provision in the United Kingdom as a whole.

Open university expenditure is incurred both locally and centrally. It is not possible to determine accurately that portion of the university's centrally incurred costs which relates to its activities in Scotland.

The table shows, in cash terms, the costs incurred by the Open university's regional office in Edinburgh in each of the last eight years. The Edinburgh office co-ordinates Open university activities throughout Scotland and the costs cover the staffing and overhead costs of the office and the university's study centres in Scotland.

Year Amount £ million
1983 0.751
1984 0.776
1985 0.791
1986 0.889
1987 1.000
1988 1.011
1989 1.099
1990 1.205