§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the future of the postcode premium in funding higher education institutions. [87230]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 16 December 2002]: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has been reviewing the level and method of distributing funding for widening participation. We favour funding indicators more closely related to the extra costs to institutions of recruiting and supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds. The income of their parents, whether they are first in their family to attend university and whether they attend schools with no tradition of sending large numbers to university, seem more appropriate indicators. The funding answer will take this matter forward.