Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Gwynne and Lord Willetts

Thursday 15th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

4. What assessment he has made of the level of applications to English universities for courses commencing in September 2012.

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)]

With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall answer this question with Question 17.

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrew Gwynne]

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply, but what measures are the Government taking to ensure that the supply of places in 2013 and beyond matches the demand for places at English universities given the drop in applications for the 2012 entry and the confusion over student number controls for 2013 and beyond?

[Mr Willetts]

We will continue to offer a large number of places at university and they will continue to be very well funded. Indeed, the latest figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England show that the funding for university teaching will go up from £8.9 billion this year to £9.1 billion next year and £9.6 billion the year after. That money is coming through in fees and loans—not fees that students have to pay up front—to ensure that we have strong, effective universities that can continue to educate many students.