§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding he currently estimates will be released through the abolition of the assisted places scheme in each year for which forecasts have been made. [57662]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisOur latest estimate of savings against the previous Government's published expenditure plans is £22 million in the current financial year 1998–99, and £63 million in 1999–2000, with £82 million in 2000–01 and £101 million in 2001–02 assuming that the original baseline figure of £180 million for 1999–2000 is rolled forward. The estimates have been refined to take account of outturn figures for the last academic year 1997–98, and assume falling numbers of assisted place holders over the years in question while continuing the present arrangements for means-testing and fee-setting.