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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he has collated on (a) the administration costs to (i) local education authorities, (ii) the Student Loan Company and (iii) the Department of Assessment and Implementation of Tuition Fees Remission and (b) the compliance cost to higher education institutions of this system. [133421] Alan Johnson: The 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 2002-03, that amounts to an estimated £21.36 million. The latest survey of the non-payment of fee contributions, published by Universities UK in November 2002, found that the amount unpaid at July 2002 across the UK was well within the 5 per cent. set aside for administration and default.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

133421; 411 c683-4W;411 c689W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Administration Costs Fees and charges Forecasts Local education authorities Students Student Loans Company

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk