§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been budgeted for the advertising campaign on university tuition fees; which media are being used; and when the campaign will finish.[144033]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department has no budget for an advertising campaign on proposed university tuition fees.
The 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.
In 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.