asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on capital equipment in (a) universities and (b) polytechnics in the last year for which figures are available; what were the corresponding numbers of full-time equivalent students; and what were the corresponding per capita allocations on equipment in the two types of institution.

The following table relates to expenditure on equipment in the financial year 1984–85 by universities and by local authorities in respect of polytechnics. Allocations of funding for equipment are not made on a per capita basis in either sector.