Written question asked by John Hume (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Tuesday, 22 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 June 2004. It was answered by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 June 2004 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the reasons for Northern Ireland being a net exporter of undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mr. Hume:: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for Northern Ireland being a net exporter of undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement. [180492] Mr. Gardiner: In 2002-03, full-time NI domiciled undergraduate students who migrated to GB outnumbered inward migrants by a ratio of around four to one. There are a number of factors affecting student migration for higher education, across the United Kingdom and beyond. These include the cap, which Government imposes as a cost control mechanism, on full-time undergraduate places in NI. At this point it is not possible to determine the relative impact of each of these factors on out-migration and in-migration to Northern Ireland. My Department is researching inter-regional flows of HE students, including the extent to which those students that leave NI do so to secure a place at the institution of their choice.

Secondary information