HC Deb 14 January 2004 vol 416 c751W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of annual net income to(a) Russell Group and (b) other universities from the proposed tuition fees after all costs and concessions are taken into account. [147601]

Alan Johnson

Information on the costs and benefits associated with the proposal in the Higher Education Bill to allow universities to set their own tuition fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. The Regulatory Impact Assessment illustrates the income from additional fees in different scenarios. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. The Regulatory Impact Assessment does not distinguish between individual universities. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.