§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 68W, regarding planned funding of further and higher education, if the planned cash increase of £412 million in 2001–02 was all spent. [50415]
(2) pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 68W, regarding planned funding of further and higher education, if the planned cash increases of £268 million and £298 million for 2002–03 and 2003–04 will all be spent in the years for which they were allocated. [50416]
§ Margaret HodgeThe increase in publicly planned funding for higher education institutions in England in 2001–02 over 2000–01 is now estimated to be £396 million, the difference being due mainly to the re-classification of planned expenditure to support widening participation in that year. The accounts for 2001–02 are not yet closed and will not be finalised until November 2002.
For the subsequent two years the increases are now expected to be £292 million and £304 million respectively. The differences are due to provision of funding for the British Academy being made via the Higher Education Funding Council for England from 2002–03, and this increase being offset by a further re-classification of planned expenditure for widening participation in those years. It is intended that these increases will be spent in the years for which they are allocated.