§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends implementing the proposals of the Warnock committee of inquiry into special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 30 October 1979.—[Vol. 972, c. 453].
Undergraduate courses Postgraduate courses Academic year Applications Admissions target Applications Admissions target 1975–76 … … … 43,746 30,000 16,177 11,900 1976–77 … … … 33,690 20,000 16,109 11,300 1977–78 … … … 22,867 12,000 14,790 10,000 1978–79 … … … 15,891 9,950 15,061 9,650 1979–80 … … … 15,869 9,900 15,774 9,750 The number of places available for new entrants in 1980–81 will be approximately the same as for 1979–80. It is too early to estimate the number of applications since recruitment has only just begun, but it is likely that the number of non-graduate applicants will be lower than in recent years because of the introduction of higher entry requirements. It is not possible to forecast the effect on the take-up of places as this depends not only on the number of applications but on a variety of other factors including the selection procedures of institutions and the number of withdrawals because of failure to obtain the necessary entry qualifications or acceptance for some other course of higher education, or for other reasons.