HC Deb 16 November 1998 vol 319 cc409-10W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many mature students were accepted for(a) full-time and (b) part-time courses in higher education in each of the last three years. [59261]

Mr. Mudie

[holding answer 12 November 1998]: Information for the three most recent years available is given in the following table:

Mature1 home entrants (thousands) to higher education courses in the UK2
Postgraduate Undergraduate
Year Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time
1995–96 27.6 68.0 118.7 231.2
1996–97 28.1 62.6 115.4 230.7
1997–98 28.6 64.1 110.5 239.4
1 Mature students are defined as postgraduates aged 25 and over, and undergraduates aged 21 and over.
2 The figures include those entering to study for a higher education qualification in either higher education institutions or further education institutions in the UK.

Higher education entrant figures for 1998–99 will not be available until April 1999.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which benefits will be included in the criteria to determine eligibility for free tuition for part-time mature students in higher education from 1999–2000. [59264]

Mr. Mudie

[holding answer 12 November 1998]: Relevant benefits for this purpose will include Income Support and the Jobseeker' s Allowance. Further guidance on eligibility will be given to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and will take account of announced changes to the benefit system.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which categories of courses will be included in the eligibility criteria for free tuition for part-time mature students in higher education from 1999–2000. [59265]

Mr. Mudie

[holding answer 12 November 1998]: Part-time undergraduate courses at degree, diploma and certificate level in all subjects will be eligible where they are funded from 1999–2000 onwards by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost of providing free tuition for mature students on part-time courses of higher education from 1999–2000. [59263]

Mr. Mudie

[holding answer 12 November 1998]: We are providing £5 million in the first year to enable fees to be waived for those starting part-time undergraduate courses from 1999–2000 onwards who are in receipt of benefits.