To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of overseas student (a) fees and (b) spending to the economy. (281393)

[holding answer 19 June 2009]: The latest estimates, taken from the “Global Value” report published by the British Council in September 2007, are that international students in further and higher education were estimated to contribute £2.2 billion in tuition fees and £3.1 billion in other spending in 2003-04. Tuition and other spending in relation to students on English language courses was estimated at £1.1 billion.