HC Deb 28 May 1962 vol 660 cc103-5W
Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education how many candidates, graded as acceptable and borderline, respectively, have applied for training college places for September, 1962; and how many places are available.

Sir D. Eccles

In the middle of May there were 2,400 candidates graded as acceptable and 1,800 as borderline. These figures apply to candidates who have not yet been offered places in training colleges and exclude those already accepted without the need for grading, those who have already with- drawn their applications, those who have been graded in categories lower than borderline, and those who have not yet been graded. My latest information is that the total of training college places available next autumn is likely to be about 15,850, and I hope that more places will be offered as a result of my recent appeal to colleges.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many training college applicants, graded by the Clearing House as acceptable, were unable to gain admission to a college by the autumn of 1961; and how many, other than students accepted by a university, withdrew their applications before 31st August, 1961;

(2) how many training college applicants graded by the Clearing House as borderline were unable to gain admission to a college by the autumn of 1961; and how many withdrew their applications before 31st August, 1961.

Sir D. Eccles

517 acceptable and 1,397 borderline candidates did not obtain places in 1961–62. A further 1,569 acceptable candidates (other than a number admitted to universities) and 951 borderline candidates withdrew their applications at some stage before the start of the session.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education how many men and women training college candidates graded by the Clearing House as borderline in 1960 gained admission to a training college in the autumn of 1961; and what percentage these candidates form of 1960 borderline applicants who received their applications in 1961.

Sir D. Eccles

182 men and 97 women who were graded as borderline for 1960–61 applied again for 1961–62. 133 (73 per cent.) of the men and 69 (71 per cent.) of the women obtained places.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many students applied for day places in training colleges for the years 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, and 1960–61; and how many were accepted;

(2) how many students have applied for day places in training colleges for the autumn of 1962; and how many so far have been accepted.

Sir D. Eccles

It is not possible to answer the first part of either Question since candidates for the mainly residential colleges do not necessarily say on their application forms that they wish to be considered for day places. About 3,000 day students were admitted to courses of all types in the general, housecraft and physical education colleges in 1960–61, 1,950 in 1959–60, 1,450 in 1958–59 and 1,350 in 1957–58. I cannot say how many have been accepted so far for 1962–63.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the training colleges that are overcrowded, showing the complement of students for which the college was designed, the present numbers attending and the number of students in residence, in lodgings or travelling from home.

Sir D. Eccles

I am sending the hon. Member the best information I can.