§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the proportion of 300W the population of appropriate age group who were receiving university level education, in each of the last 10 years; and what are his estimates for each of the next five years.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsUniversity students range in age from under 18 years to over 30 years and information about the age distribution within the student population has been collected only since the academic year 1965–66. It is not possible to relate these figures to the total population of Great Britain in meaningful way or to produce future estimates of this kind.
§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the number of students who applied for places in universities in England and Wales for the years 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively, and the number of unfilled places in each of those years.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsInformation on this question is contained in the reports of the University Central Council on Admissions. The Council only commenced full operations in the academic year 1963–64 and in years since this coverage has extended to a progressively greater number of university institutions. I regret that it is not possible therefore to provide information which would be comparable for the years in question.
§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the percentage of students, in their relevant age group, who entered universities in England and Wales for the years 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsOn the assumption that the average age of new entrants to universities in England and Wales is 18½ years at the October in which they enter, the percentage of these students* to the total population of their age group would be as follows:
per cent. 1962 4.1 1963 4.3 1964 4.6 1965 5.7 1966 5.7 * Including university entrants from overseas.