Dear Sir or Madam,

Which Government department owns the "Higher Education Statistics
Agency student record"?

What is the "Higher Education Statistics Agency student record"
used for ?

Who can request data from the "Higher Education Statistics Agency
student record"?

What is the cost to the public purse to maintain the "Higher
Education Statistics Agency student record"?

Yours faithfully,

James Trice

Thank you for your recent email. A reply will be sent to you as soon as
possible (where a response is required). For information, the
departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses
should be sent within 15 working days or 20 working days if you are
requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2008/0062537

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
http://www.dius.gov.uk/index.htm

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Dear Mr Trice,

I refer to your request received on 22 July 2008 under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 for information about the Higher Education
Statistics Agency Student Record. This request was assigned the
reference number 2008/0062537. I am writing to confirm that the
Department has now completed its search for the information which you
requested and a copy of the information which can be disclosed is
enclosed.

Which Government department owns the "Higher Education Statistics Agency
student record"?
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is an
owner of this source within Government in England. As such, DIUS hold
the data solely for the purpose of analysis for Government policy
development and delivery. The Higher Education Funding Council for
England (HEFCE) and the Training and Development Agency for Schools
(TDA) are also owners of this source in England, and it is the statutory
powers of HEFCE and TDA, who are Non-Departmental Public Bodies, that
underpin data collection by HESA in England. Parallel arrangements apply
in each devolved administration.

However, all intellectual property rights in the data belong to the
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

What is the "Higher Education Statistics Agency student record" used
for?
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) analyses
this data for the purpose of informing and monitoring Government policy
development and delivery. The Department cannot comment on how other
bodies who hold the data make use of it.

Who can request data from the "Higher Education Statistics Agency
student record"?
Anyone can request information which is based on the HESA Student
Record. Any requests made to the Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills will be considered on a case-by-case basis. DIUS is not
required to create information which we do not already hold (i.e. in a
publication) which would require any form of new analysis on the HESA
student record.

DIUS does not produce bespoke analysis for individuals outside
government as release of the material would prejudice the financial and
business interests of HESA which is a (non-FOI) body that relies for
part of its funding on charging for information - it would impact on
their revenue by affecting their ability to participate in a commercial
activity. Data provided through the HESA Information Provision Service
may be subject to a charge. The actual charge will depend upon the
complexity of the data enquiry, and the format in which it is supplied.
More details on charges can be found at the link below:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/...

What is the cost to the public purse to maintain the "Higher Education
Statistics Agency student record"?
The total income for HESA for the 2006-07 academic year was £3,281,802.
HESA's income comprises three components. The largest of these is the
subscription income paid, on a size-related basis, by publicly-funded
higher education institutions as a condition of grant (and also by The
University of Buckingham on a voluntary basis). The HESA subscription
should not be seen solely as a charge against institutional income from
public funds, since non-EU students paying full-cost fees are included
in the student record and in the subscription formula. The second
component of income arises from direct contracts with funding bodies,
for example the contract with HEFCE (as UK-wide managers of the process)
for the calculation and publication of the HE Performance Indicators.
The third component is commercial income, of which the bulk is generated
through the supply of bespoke data extracts and analyses, the sale of
publications, and the provision of consultancy and training services.
The profit from commercial activity is used to reduce the institutional
subscription level.

The collection of the HESA student record depends on the use of common
services within HESA used for all data collection. HESA does not
disaggregate the associated costs across different data streams, and it
is accordingly not possible to identify a cost relating specifically to
the student record.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote our reference number in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to
your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our
decision, you should write to me within two calendar months of the date
of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our
complaints/review procedure.

Yours sincerely,
K. Heywood

Enquiries:
Castle View House,
East Lane,
Runcorn,
WA7 2GJ

020 7215 5555
[DIUS request email] <mailto:[DIUS request email]>

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number
2008/0062537.

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