§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the (i) percentage and (ii) amount of the fee income paid to further education colleges in February which related to expenditure required to be met in the third term in the academic year, relating to next financial year. [48300]
§ Mr. WilsonFor the 1997–98 academic year tuition fees for full time higher education students have been paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in three instalments, one third in October, one third in February and one third in April. From academic year 1998–99, those fees payable by SAAS will be paid in a single instalment, in February. Approximately one third, or £8 million, of the amount to be paid to further education colleges in February 1999 will relate to expenditure on tuition during the third term of the 1998–99 academic year.