§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in higher education are from each EU country; what proportion from each country are assisted from public funds to meet the cost of fees or maintenance; and to what extent. [164081]
§ Alan Johnson[holding answer 26 March 2004]The Government are required under Article 12 of the EC Treaty to treat EU students no less favourably than UK students with regard to tuition fees. EU students make a means-assessed contribution to their tuition fees, with the remainder being made up by the Government (via HEFCE). EU students are not entitled to receive support with maintenance costs.
Table A shows the number of full-time undergraduate students enrolled in England and Wales in 2002/03 by domicile. The percentages refer to the numbers of students qualifying for assistance with the means-assessed element of the tuition fees.
The percentage number of EU students qualifying for assistance is lower than the percentage of UK full-time undergraduate students enrolled in England and Wales in academic year 2001/02 who are receiving full or partial support with their tuition fees, as Table B shows. 1552W
Table A Percentage Domicile Enrolments Full assistance Partial assistance Greece 9,304 47 11 France 6,739 22 7 Germany 6,932 15 6 Irish Republic 3,998 36 7 Spain 4,253 27 4 Italy 2,597 32 7 Sweden 2,276 46 11 Finland 1,382 32 11 Belgium 1,291 7 3 Netherlands 1,041 17 6 Portugal 1,103 50 7 Denmark 863 39 8 Austria 697 17 7 Luxembourg 456 3 2 Gibraltar 490 10 4 Total 43,422 32 8
Table B Percentage Full assistance Partial assistance UK students 43 16 EU Students 32 8