§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many third level students from(a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) other European Community countries and (c) non-European Community countries were enrolled in universities and colleges in England and Wales in each year since 1984–85; and what has been the cost or income in each category to the education budget.
§ Mr. BoswellThe following are the numbers of students for England and Wales which are readily available:
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 Republic of Ireland 2,615 3,072 3,756 Other EC 17,360 21,664 25,243 Non-EC 49,194 51,177 53,422 I will write to the hon. Member with figures for the earlier years.
The costs of provision for students from individual EC member states are not recorded separately. For 1991–92 the total cost to the education budget attributable to students from EC states studying in England and Wales is estimated at approximately £105 million. For 1990–91 and 1989–90, the equivalent figures for expenditure attributable to students from other EC member states were in the region of £90 million and £75 million respectively. British 172W nationals studying elsewhere in the European Community enjoy reciprocal rights. Students from non-EC countries are expected to meet the full cost of their tuition. Income from non-EC students is credited to the host institution and not to the education budget.
Balanced against these costs is the benefit to the United Kingdom economy from the money spent in this country by students from overseas.