§ Lord HALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the number of places available for allocation through the Universities Central Council of Admissions in (a) Medicine and (b) Agriculture at the end of the last scholastic year and how many who had qualified for admissions failed to secure a place in medicine and how many places in agriculture could not be filled by a fully qualified candidate.
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGSBRIDGEProvision for medical education is being made on the basis that admissions to medical schools will increase to about 4,000 by 1980: 3,459 students were admitted in 1975 and admissions for 1976 are estimated at about 3,700. About 3,000 qualified home applicants failed to gain places in 1975; the number is expected to be similar for 1976.670 applicants were accepted for agriculture courses beginning in October 1976. This figure broadly corresponds to the places available and there is no reason to suppose that accepted candidates were not fully qualified.