HC Deb 23 April 1985 vol 77 c736
10. Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the recently announced increase in places for undergraduates in engineering and science.

Mr. Brooke

My right hon. Friend announced on 3 April the 20 institutions which should participate in the first phase of the programme and gave details of the relevant departments and the proposed intakes. The second phase of the engineering and technology programme will be announced later.

Mr. Mills

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Given the increasing shortage of engineering and science graduates and technicians, can he reassure me that this switch is not really a switch, and that the increase in places for engineering and science is not simply a substitution for places in other disciplines?

Mr. Brooke

The Government have been urged frequently by industry in the past year that the number of students in engineering and technology, and particularly in information technology subjects, should be increased. The programme which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced is in response to that.

Dr. Bray

Is the Minister aware that only a very temporary glut in the supply of micro circuits has prevented the demand for electronic engineers going through the roof this year? Is he further aware that the proposed increase in the production of engineers is totally inadequate, given the demands of industry?

Mr. Brooke

We are confident that the industry can certainly absorb more graduates with appropriate qualifications. The hon. Gentleman would not expect me to share his faith in manpower planning, but he will be glad to know that an IMS study is being conducted on demand for and supply of information technology manpower.