HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc322-3W
Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimates he made of the numbers of students on two-year higher education courses before his recent announcement of notional tuition fee levels for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Boswell

The Government's expenditure plans, including tuition fee levels, announced at the time of the Budget allowed for a specified total number of students in higher education. In order to translate total numbers into the numbers of new entrants, it is necessary to make assumptions about a number of factors, including the average length of courses. However, the number of students on two-year higher education courses was not separately assessed or identified.