§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students enrolled in the current academic session for higher education and the proportion per 1,000 heads compared with the United States of America and the countries of the European Economic Community; and if he will give the same set of figures for 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. MulleyThe number of full-time and sandwich students enrolled in the current academic session in higher education in Great Britain is estimated at about 500,000, representing an annual entry of home and overseas students equivalent to some 19 per cent. of the relevant age group. The corresponding numbers for 1973–74 and 1974–75 are 481,000 and 488,000, again about 19 per cent. of the relevant age group in each case.
361WDue to differences in the educational systems and in the data supplied to international organisations, directly comparable figures for other countries are not available. The Statistical Office of the European Communities is, however, in the process of collecting educational statistics from member countries which in due course should enable up to date comparisons to be made between them.