§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was public spending on higher education, excluding the science budget, as a proportion of GDP for each year from 1979 to 1999; and what is the forecast for(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [110399]
§ Mr. Wills[holding answer 21 February 2000]: The proportion of GDP spent on UK higher education for each financial year, both including and excluding the DTI/OST science budget, is given in the following table. The figures including the science budget are as in our reply to the noble Lord, the Lord Baker of Dorking of 27 January 2000, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA206. Both sets of figures include expenditure from public funds on tuition fees, maintenance awards and student loans. Figures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are current spending plans. The proportions will vary depending upon the performance of the economy, which determines the level of GDP. Funding for higher education in England will increase by 11 per cent. in real terms over the four years to 2001–02.
137W
Percentage Including science Excluding science 1979–80 1.23 1.08 1980–81 1.33 1.17 1981–82 1.33 1.16 1982–83 1.30 1.13 1983–84 1.28 1.11 1984–85 1.23 1.07 1985–86 1.16 1.00 1986–87 1.14 0.98
Percentage Including science Excluding science 1979–80 1.11 0.96 1980–81 1.07 0.92 1981–82 1.08 0.92 1982–83 1.10 0.94 1983–84 1.19 1.03 1984–85 1.28 1.11 1985–86 1.29 1.11 1986–87 1.31 1.13 1995–96 1.29 1.11 1996–97 1.19 1.02 1997–98 1.16 1.00 1998–99 1.12 0.97 1999–2000 1.13 0.97 2000–01 1.14 0.98 2000–02 1.14 0.98