Mr. BendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was in 2001 to(a) the universities and (b) the Government of administering 18W university tuition fees, broken down by (i) publicity and information costs and (ii) costs incurred as a result of non-payment of fees. [61879]
§ Margaret HodgeThe information requested is not available. Government funding of higher education institutions in England through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) takes account of the cost to universities and colleges of administering tuition fees. The forecast income that institutions receive from student contributions to fees is abated by 5 per cent. for collection of fees and any default. For 2001–02, that amounts to an estimated £18.2 million. The latest survey of the non-payment of fee contributions, published by Universities UK in November 2001, found that the amount unpaid at July 2001 across the UK was well within the 5 per cent. set aside for administration and default.