asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the cost to each university of proposals to alter employers' national insurance contributions; and when he expects to announce whether his Department will give grant aid to the universities to cover the additional cost.

No estimate has been made of the cost to individual universities of the proposals to alter employers' national insurance contributions. The additional cost to the universities as a whole is estimated to be about £7 million in the first 12 months. The possibility of providing additional funds is under consideration and it is not yet possible to say when an announcement will be made.