§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Department for Education plans to fund all four years of study by students from Northern Ireland at Scottish Universities; how many students from Northern Ireland are currently in the fourth year of a degree course at a Scottish University; and what assessment he has made of the cost of funding this fourth year.[16093]
§ Mr. Worthington[holding answer 14 November 1997]The issue is the subject of Ministerial discussion. In 1996–97 there were around 900 Northern Ireland domiciled students on the fourth year of a full-time first degree course at Scottish Higher Education Institutions. The estimate of costs is currently being examined.