HC Deb 27 October 1992 vol 212 cc600-1W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the number of students from(a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Irish Republic, (c) Great Britain and (d) elsewhere, in each further education college in Northern Ireland, in (i) total and (ii) full-time equivalents; and what is the cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer in respect of these students.

Mr. Hanley

The latest enrolment details are for the 1991–92 academic year and are set out in the table; however, full-time equivalent numbers are not yet compiled for that year. It is not possible to calculate costs. For information on the latest overall student unit costs I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 19 October,Official Report, column 104.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from(a) the Irish Republic, (b) Great Britain, (c) elsewhere in the EEC and (d) elsewhere, attend each of the universities in Northern Ireland; and what is the cost of students from (i) the Irish Republic and (ii) the rest of the EEC to the United Kingdom taxpayer.

Mr. Hanky

Final enrolment figures are not yet available for 1992–93. However, the latest available estimates for 1992–93 non-Northern Ireland domiciled enrolments at each of the universities in Northern Ireland are as follows:

Queen's University Belfast University of Ulster
(a) Irish Republic 637 1,775
(b) Great Britain 329 444
(c) Elsewhere in EC 50 214
(d) Elsewhere 491 133

Information on the cost of students is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the estimated cost to public funds of tuition fees for eligible students from the EC in the 1992–93 academic year will be about £4.2 million.