§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what expenditure his Department proposes to allocate to(a) advertising campaigns and (b) publicity campaigns relating to higher education in each year from 2002–03 to the end of the current expenditure plan. [143277]
§ Alan Johnson[holding answer 10 December 2003]The Department has run a number of campaigns in relation to higher education. These include
The 'Aimhigher' campaign, which has been running for three years, aims to raise the aspirations of young people and their parents by promoting the benefits of higher education;A campaign to raise awareness of foundation degrees among employers and potential students;An information campaign, run annually, aimed at potential higher education students and their parents informing them of the financial support available and how to apply for it;Following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a campaign informing potential and existing higher education students and their parents that changes were being proposed and signposting them to sources of further information.In 2002–03 the Department spent £8 million on higher education publicity campaigns of which £3.2 million was spent on advertising. In 2003–04 we expect to spend £13.8 million of which £6.08 million would be spent on advertising. Plans and budgets for the Department's communications activity for 2004–05, including campaigns relating to higher education, have not yet been developed so it is not possible to give the information requested.
All costs exclude VAT.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advertising campaigns his Department is introducing on the proposed changes to higher education funding; and what the level of funding allocated to each campaign is. [142651]
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent in 2003 on advertising campaigns regarding student tuition fees; and what media have been used. [144146]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department regularly runs advertising campaigns to explain to potential students and their parents what financial support is available to those undertaking higher education courses. The current 2003 campaign, (for those applying for September 2004 and which runs to the end of February 2004) is closely linked to the Government's wider Aimhigher campaign, designed to encourage young people from non-traditional backgrounds to apply for university. The total cost of advertising is £682,000 which covers radio and poster advertising, and paid editorials.
1061WIn addition, following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a further information campaign to explain what was being proposed and to signpost further information. The total cost of advertising was £605,000. All costs are exclusive of VAT.