Students: Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of part-time (a) first degree and (b) second degree students who had their fees paid by an employer in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (186616)

The latest available information is given in the table.

*Number and proportion of part-time first degree and postgraduate students who had their fees paid by an employer, English Higher Education Institutions, academic year 2006/07*
	First degree	Postgraduate
Major source of tuition fees	Number	Percentage of known	Number	Percentage of known
Employer¹	19,190	11.1	42,845	20.4
Other	154,855	89.3	170,850	81.2
Total known	173,380	100.0	210,430	100.0
Unknown	665	—	3,260	—
Total	174,045	—	213,695	—
¹ Employer as major source of tuition fees includes students who were recorded as having their tuition fees paid by “student's employer” and “UK industry/commerce”. Note: Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Economic competitiveness demands knowledge-intensive, innovating, organisations, with highly skilled and knowledgeable workforces. Substantial numbers of learners already receive support for first and subsequent degrees with employers paying their fees and often providing other support. We recently announced plans to deliver real growth in higher education co-funded with employers. We are making the public investment—rising to at least £50 million in 2010-11—and look to employers to work with us to deliver.

Volume 472: debated on Tuesday 26 February 2008