§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the student wastage rate in universities in Scotland, England and Wales in percentage and numbers from 1963 to the nearest available date.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsAnnual figures for student wastage are not available. The University Grants Committee's reportInquiry into Student Progress, which was published by H.M. Stationery Office last year, gives information about 1966. Table 57 shows that the percentages of students due to graduate in that year who left without obtaining a first degree were 12.2 per cent., 13.4 per cent. and 18.6 per cent. for universities in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. Comparisons between these figures are subject to the reservation that they do not take account of differences in educational systems, in the mix of disciplines in individual universities and in the levels and standards of individual universities.