9 October 2006
Philip Dunne questions the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the cost of subsidising pensioners in further education.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury was in 2005-06 of subsidising the concession for pensioners in further education courses before the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. [91694]
John Healey: Further Education (FE) providers have the discretion to offer different levels of subsidy to different groups of FE learners. There is also a national fee assumption for FE courses. In 2005-06, it was assumed that adult learners in FE contribute 27.5 per cent. of the basic course cost of their learning unless they are entitled to free tuition. Cost information on the different levels of subsidies offered by FE providers is not compiled centrally.
