The estimated average tuition costs for training midwifery students in each year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table, although the data collected have been based on different methodologies, therefore making comparisons difficult.
Financial year Average midwifery tuition costs (£) 1997-98 1,24,688 1998-99 15,375 1999-2000 5,430 2000-01 5,877 2001-02 6,051 2002-03 6,315 2003-04 6,649 2004-05 26,489 2005-06 26,442 2006-07 37,632 2007-08 37,838 1 1997-98 and 1998-99 figures are calculated using estimated bursary rates. 2 1997-98, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are forecasts (actual outturn was only collected from 1999 onwards and the last data collected was in November 2004 covering 2003-04 outturn). 3 2006-07 and 2007-08 figures are taken from the Benchmark Price .
In addition to tuition costs, midwifery trainees are entitled to either a bursary or salary support funding. The bursaries in 2007-08 outside London are £6,372 for diploma students and £2,231 for degree students.
Students may be entitled to other payments such as allowances for dependant children and the cost of national health service employees seconded onto midwifery training programmes will include a proportion of their salary costs.
[holding answer 12 June 2007]: The total cost of training student midwives for each year since 1997 is set out in the following table.
Financial year Total cost (£ million) 1997-98 42.6 1998-99 34.6 1999-2000 45.6 2000-01 51.4 2001-02 58.7 2002-03 59.0 2003-04 65.8 2004-05 79.4 2005-06 82.2 Notes: 1. 1997-98, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are estimates (actual outturn was only collected from 1998-99 onwards). No data is available for 2006-07. 2. Data in the above time series is not strictly comparable due to changes in the way data was collected. 3. Average bursary costs for nurses and midwives added to tuition costs from 2000-01 onwards. 4. The Department does not collect centrally the number of students who qualified as midwives in each of these years.