§ 22. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of how many students will he entering higher education this autumn. [29129]
§ Mr. BoswellOur spending plans have allowed for overall funded student numbers in England to rise by 22,000 between the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years. This should enable approaching one in three young people to enter full-time higher education this autumn.
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§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30346]
§ Mr. BoswellThe current backlog of building repair and maintenance work for academic buildings is estimated to cost £900 million. This figure is derived from accommodation condition surveys conducted in the early 1990s.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England, and its predecessor bodies, have spent £386 million over the past five years on grants for backlog maintenance, and HE institutions themselves have spent £216 million during the same period. The HEFCE plans to spend a further £100 million on grant aid for projects over the next three years to which it expects institutions to contribute an additional £300 million. The remaining less urgent work will need to be funded by institutions themselves.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the(a) average cost and (b) marginal cost of university students in 1995–96. [30354]
§ Mr. BoswellThe average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per higher education student for the financial year 1995–96 is estimated as around £4,500. No information is available on the marginal cost.
Expenditure and funding on higher education in England and Wales: 1984–85 to 1994–95 £ (cash terms) England and Wales Academic Years England only Financial Years Average maintenance grant per mandatory award holder1 Average fees per mandatory award holder1 2 Average student loan per loan holder3 Estimated average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per student2 4 5 1984–85 1,240 580 — 4,000 1985–86 1,170 610 — 4,100 1986–87 1,220 620 — 4,200 1987–88 1,240 640 — 4,400 1988–89 1,320 670 — 4,700 1989–90 1,390 710 — 4,900 1990–91 1,480 1,700 390 4,800 1991–92 1,550 2,250 540 4,800 1992–93 1,610 2,310 660 4,600 1993–94 1,670 2,100 740 4,600 1994–95 n/a n/a n/a 4,600 n/a = Not available. 1 Based on award holders normally domiciled in England and Wales. 2 The fee element per student of the funding council grant plus tuition fee income is not directly comparable with the average fee per mandatory award holder. 3 Based on loan holders studying in England and Wales. 4 Based on higher education students studying in England. 5 Figures estimated using the real terms unit public funding index published in successive DM departmental reports, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what are her estimates of the university or polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75 to 1998–99. [30351]
§ Mr. BoswellProjections of the student population for home full-time and sandwich students in GB institutions are presently not available for years beyond 1997–98. However, comparable 1998–99 projections will be
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§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the staff-student ratio at universities and their forerunners for each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30345]
§ Mr. BoswellInformation on the student-staff ratios in former English UFC and PCFC funded institutions was presented in table G of the Department's annual report, Cm 2810, published in March this year, a copy of which is in the Library. This table provides information for both sectors for the academic years 1990–91 to 1992–93. Information for earlier years, calculated on a different basis, is available in previous departmental reports.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average cost to the Exchequer of each student in university education for each year from 1984–85 to 1994–95, broken down by(a) maintenance grant, (b) fees and (c) other. [30353]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information is not available in the form requested. The average maintenance grants received by mandatory award holders domiciled in England and Wales in the academic years 1984–85 to 1993–94 are shown in the table. Since 1990–91, most students in full-time education up to first degree level have had access to student loans. The average loan to students studying in England and Wales in the academic years 1990–91 to 1993–94 are also shown.
In England, the estimated average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per student for the financial years in question are also provided.
available later in the year as a direct consequence of this years public expenditure survey.
Outturn data for the years 1974–75 to 1993–94, provisional data for 1994–95 and projections for 1995–96 to 1997–98 are shown in the table, which shows figures underlying the 1994 budget settlement.
In addition, the number of students in English institutions is published in the Department for Education and Office for Standards in Education departmental 625W report, copies of which are held in the Library. Following is table G: Higher Education student and staff numbers, England 1989–90 to 1997–98, from the March 95 edition.
Table: 1994 Budget Settlement. Home full-time and sandwich higher education student numbers in Great Britain Thousands Academic year Total 1974–75 447 1975–76 456 1976–77 459 1977–78 451 1978–79 448 1979–80 455 1980–81 467 1981–82 492 1982–83 507 1983–84 515
Table G: Higher education student and staff numbers, England 1989–90 to 1997–98 Academic year 1989–90 actual 1990–91 actual 1991–92 actual 1992–93 actual 1993–94 provisional 1994–95 projected 1995–96 projected 1996–97 projected 1997–98 projected Home full-time and part-time students (thousands) Full-time and sandwich students 484 527 599 686 749 798 800 793 792 Part time students3 339 359 380 402 407 423 434 442 452 Total full and part-time 823 887 980 1,088 1,157 1,220 1,234 1,235 1,244 Total full-time equivalent students of which students funded by TTA 603 653 732 826 892 945 952(61) 948(60) 950(59) Age Participation Index (GB)per cent.4 5 17 19 23 28 30 30–31 30–31 30–31 30–31 EC Students' (thousands) Total full—time equivalent students 16 20 24 27 33 33 34 35 36 Other Overseas Students Total full-time equivalent students 46 48 51 53 59 60 60 61 61 Total full-time equivalent students (FTEs) 664 721 807 907 984 1,038 1,047 1,044 1,047 Academic Staff (thousand FTEs) Universities7 24.9 24.9 25.6 26.1 26.6 Former PCFC funded institutions n/a 22.8 23.6 24.9 n/a Student: Staff Ratio8 Universities7 11.1 11.7 12.4 13.2 14.0 Former PCFC funded institutions n/a 15.3 17.1 18.7 n/a Notes: Totals based on unrounded figures, therefore may not always equal sum of the omponents 1 Covers undergraduates and postgraduates. 2 Higher education students in higher education institutions and further education colleges 3 Includes a small number of OU full-time postgraduate students. 4 The Age Participation Index (API) is defined as the number of initial home entrants to HE aged under 21 expressed as a percentage of the average number of 18 and 19 years olds in the population. 5 The Age Participation Index (API) over the protection period will depend upon universities recruitment policies to maintain total numbers within DFE 'guidelines': depending upon these factors, the API may fall outside the forecast range. 6 Includes Finland, Austria and Sweden from 1995–96. 7 Excludes OU Covers former UFC funded institutions. 8 Student numbers used in the calculation of SSRs are on a different basis to those appearing in the table. n/a Not available. Sources:
DFE surveys Further Educatin Statistical Record, Form 618G and Annual Monitoring Survey, Universities' Statistical Record, Open University, PCFC Surveys PARISS and Staff Record.
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Table: 1994 Budget Settlement. Home full-time and sandwich higher education student numbers in Great Britain Thousands Academic year Total 1984–85 521 1985–86 530 1986–87 540 1987–88 549 1988–89 565 1989–90 600 1990–91 650 Actual 1992–93 841 Provisional 1993–94 930 Projected 1994–95 990 1995–96 995 1996–97 984 1997–98 983
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is her estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students; [30331]
(2) what would be the annual cost of paying (a) all fees for, and (b) the full maintenance grant to, all part-time university students. [30330]
§ Mr. BoswellThe cost in either case would depend upon the decisions taken about eligible courses, their duration, the maximum payable fee and maintenance grant, and the account to be taken of the personal circumstances of potentially eligible students.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what has been the value of the full university student grant for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices; [30347]
(2) if she will list the change to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974. [30349]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information requested is given in the table.
Value of the standard maintenance grant and grant plus loan in England and Wales: 1974–75 to 1994–95 Standard maintenance grant (cash terms) £1 Standard maintenance grant plus loan (cash terms) £2 Standard maintenance grant (real terms) £3 Standard maintenance grant plus loan (real terms) £3 1974–754 605 — 3056 — 1975–764 740 — 2,945 — 1976–774 875 — 3,041 — 1977–784 1,010 — 3,033 — 1978–794 1,100 — 3,062 — 1979–804 1,245 — 2,996 — 1980–814 1,430 — 2,997 — 1981–824 1,535 — 2,875 — 1982–834 1,595 — 2,783 — 1983–844 1,660 — 2,753 — 1984–85 1,775 — 2,832 — 1985–86 1,830 — 2,766 — 1986–87 1,901 — 2,778 — 1987–88 1,972 — 2,784 — 1988–89 2,050 — 2,752 — 1989–90 2,155 — 2,733 — 1990–91 2,265 2,685 2,624 3,111 1991–92 2,265 2,845 2,483 3,119 1992–93 2,265 2,980 2,387 3,141 1993–94 2,265 3,065 2,311 3,128 1994–95 2,040 3,190 2,040 3,190 1 The standard maintenance grant rate is that applicable to students living away from home and studying outside London. 2 Since 1990–91 student support has included grant and loan; the grant was frozen at the 1990–91 level (ie: £2,265) until 1994–95 when it was reduced to £2,040. Figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years include grant plus full year loan for students living away from home. 3 Based on the Retail Price Index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September at the beginning of each academic year. 4 Upto and including 1983–84 students claimed, and were individually reimbursed, full travelling expenses; form 1984–85 most students had to meet travel costs from within their main rate of grant.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30327]
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§ Mr. BoswellFull-time and sandwich first degree drop-out rates for each year from 1982–1983 to 1992–1993 are shown in the table. The figures are published in the 1995 and 1994 departmental annual reports.
Academic year Percentage drop-out rate 1982–83 13 1983–84 14 1984–85 15 1985–86 14 1986–87 16 1987–88 17 1988–89 14 1989–90 16 1990–91 15 1991–92 17 1992–93 17 Sources:
Universities' Statistical Record leavers and enrolment records
CNAA enrolment records England and Wales (1982–83 to 1990–91)
DFE Further Education Statistical Record (1991–92 to 1992–93)
The figures show that drop-out rates have fluctuated but they appear low by international standards.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what would be the cost of reducing the level of university fees paid by non-European Community country students to the fee levels paid by students from European Community Countries. [30333]
§ Mr. BoswellInformation on fees for overseas students, which are set separately by each university and college, is not available.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the cost in the current year of restoring the value of the student maintenance grant to its real 1979 level. [30352]
§ Mr. BoswellThe cost would depend on whether or not the changes made to the student support system since 1979, including the major changes made in 1990 when loans were introduced, were to be reversed.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education, what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95. [30332]
§ Mr. BoswellThe average level of loan for all borrowers in the academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which data are available, was £736. Separate figures for university students are not available.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education, what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants, for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30348]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information requested for England and Wales is shown in the table.
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Government expenditure on maintenance grants to mandatory award holders and on student loans in England and Wales: Academic years 1974–75 to 1993–94 £ million (real terms)1 Student maintenance grants2 Student loans3 Total expenditure 1974–75 n/a4 — n/a 1975–76 631 — 631 1976–77 653 — 653 1977–78 700 — 700 1978–79 757 — 757 1979–80 799 — 799 1980–81 834 — 834 1981–82 830 — 830 1982–83 824 — 824 1983–84 833 — 833 1984–85 766 — 766 1985–86 692 — 692 1986–87 701 — 701 1987–88 710 — 710 1988–89 734 — 734 1989–90 774 — 774 1990–91 826 68 894 1991–92 942 129 1,072 1992–93 1,102 204 1,306 1993–94 1,227 275 1,502 1 In 1994–95 prices based on the Retail Price Index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September at the beginning of each academic year. 2 Expenditure on grants to mandatory award normally domiciled in England and Wales. 3 Expenditure on loans to higher education England and Wales. 4 Information on expenditure on maintenance award holders in 1974–75 is not available.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the number of students in higher education in the year 2000. [30328]
§ Mr. BoswellProjections for students in Great Britain institutions of higher education are not available for academic years beyond 1997–98.
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30334]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information is not readily available in the format requested. The Student Loans Company first issued loans in the academic year 1990–91. The total numbers of loans issued in each academic year to students in higher education are:
- 1990–91: 180,000
- 1991–92: 261,000
- 1992–93: 345,000
- 1993–94: 430,000
The latest forecast of the number of student loans that will be issued in 1994–95 is 525,000.
The forecast of student loan numbers, as used in calculating the figures for the supply estimates, was:
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- 1995–96: 672,000
- 1996–97: 731,000
- 1997–98: 768,000
§ Mr. BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the percentage of university/polytechnic students entitled to(a) full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant in each year since 1979. [30350]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information requested on this topic which the Department collects relates only to mandatory award holders domiciled in England and Wales. The available information is shown in the table.
Mandatory award holders receiving full and nil maintenance grants in England and Wales: 1979–80 to 1993–94 Percentages Full maintenance grant Nil maintenance grant 1979–80 39 —1 1980–81 40 —1 1981–82 40 —1 1982–83 37 —1 1983–84 36 —1 1984–85 35 —1 1985–86 35 22 1986–87 37 22 1987–88 37 25 1988–89 37 25 1989–90 36 25 1990–91 37 25 1991–92 39 25 1992–93 42 24 1993–94 44 22 Note: 1 Up to 1984–85 all mandatory award holders received at least a non-zero minimum maintenance grant (£335 in 1979–90 and £410 in 1983–84).
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education to what extent maintenance for younger children assessed under the Child Support Act 1991 is taken into account in assessing parental contributions towards grants for students in higher education; and if she will make a statement. [31213]
§ Mr. BoswellCertain payments which are made by others for the benefit of a student are treated as part of the gross income of the parent in assessing that parent's contribution to the student's grant. These payments include any made under a trust deed or other enactment or instrument for or towards the maintenance, education or other benefit of the student, or of any person dependent on the student's parent, and include payments assessed under the Child Support Act. Where a parent makes such payments in respect of his children, other than the student whose grant is being assessed, and those children are wholly or mainly financial dependent on him, his contribution to the student's grant is reduced by £75.