§ Q2. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister how many university lecturers have been made redundant between 1980 and December 1983.
§ 4. The Prime MinisterThere have been no imposed redundancies in the universities, but between the end of 1980 and the end of 1983 about 2,300 academic staff from a total of about 34,000 left their jobs with compensation under the arrangements approved by the Government.
§ Mr. BennettWill the Prime Minister confirm that those losses of staff in universities are far less than the Government originally demanded? Will she congratulate the universities on not losing as many staff as the Government demanded? Will she make it quite clear that, in the national interest of this country, we need to increase the number of highly trained people coming out of universities in the next 15 years, not reduce them, and that what we need to do is to give universities and polytechnics a guarantee of resources?
§ The Prime MinisterI have given the hon. Gentleman the numbers that he asked for, and those that are left. With regard to the second half of the hon. Gentleman's question, in 1983 there were about 50,000 more full-time home students in higher education than in 1979.
§ Mr. GreenwayWill my right hon. Friend confirm that the figure that she has just given means that 13 per cent. more students are at universities and in higher education than was the case when the Government came to power in 1979?
§ The Prime MinisterThe proportion of young people in the age group going for higher education is at an all-time record.