HC Deb 06 December 1962 vol 668 cc1475-7
10. Mr. Morris

asked the Minister of Education the number of sixth-formers in South Wales who, having failed to obtain a place at a university this session, have returned to school.

Sir E. Boyle

I regret that the information is not available.

Mr. Morris

In view of the frustration of a large number of children in South Wales, will the Minister take steps to discover what is the situation? Does he realise that the acid test of university expansion is whether, as the years go by, boys and girls with the same qualifications have a better, or at least an equal, chance of entry to university on application than their predecessors have done? Can he give an assurance to the Welsh school leavers in 1965 and 1970 that if they have the identical qualifications of their predecessors in 1951 or 1955, they will be able to enter university?

Sir E. Boyle

That information could be obtained only by an approach to the headmasters of secondary schools with sixth forms and would impose a disproportionate amount of work. One must not look simply at the universities. The number of full-time and sandwich first-year students taking advanced courses at the Welsh College of Advanced Technology was only 195 in 1959–60, but 268 in 1961–62.

Mr. Morris

Do I take it that the Minister cannot give any assurance to the school leavers in 1965 and 1970 that if they have the same academic qualifications as their predecessors had in 1951 or 1955, they will be able to enter university?

Sir E. Boyle

As the hon. Member knows, in the 1960s we shall have not only the expansion of university places of 35 per cent. in five years, which is the Government's target, but also a considerable expansion of the colleges of advanced technology. We are also getting ahead with teacher training expansion and expansion of the technical colleges, too. It is a mistake to think of the problem solely in relation to the universities.

Dr. King

Since it is clear that a number of boys and girls in the sixth forms who are entitled to go to university will not get places this year and that the position will be cumulatively worse next year, will the Minister treat as a matter of urgency the provision of an alternative for the sixth formers who are qualified to enter university but will not get there?

Sir E. Boyle

I fully appreciate the anxiety which is felt on this matter in all parts of the House. This is to some extent a problem which results from the success in expanding the sixth forms. My concern is that when Questions are asked in the House, the whole field of full-time higher education should be looked at and not only the universities.