Further and Higher Education

HC Deb 12 May 1998 vol 312 cc83-4W

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average number of years of full-time equivalent post-school specialist learning provided per head of population for the age group 16 to 25 years in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EU countries. [41105]

Dr. Howells

An average¹ of 2.7 full-time equivalent years are spent studying in UK further and higher education institutions, between the ages of 16 and 25. If post-compulsory school-age studies in a school setting are included, this increases to 3.4 full-time equivalent years. Comparable information is unavailable for other EU countries.

¹ Enrolment and population data for 1996–97 are used to calculate an "expected" number of years in education

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost per head per year of full-time education in(a) the higher education sector and (b) the further education sector. [41099]

Dr. Howells

In 1996–97, the average funding for teaching and research per full-time equivalent per year was £4,700 in the higher education sector. In the further education sector the unit funding, for teaching only, was £2,920. Figures are presented at 1996–97 prices.