§ 13. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received from the principals of the Scottish universities about the effect of the proposed cuts in grants on Scottish universities; and what reply he has given.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend and I have both met the principals of Scottish universities in recent months and have received a number of representations from them.
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§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have attended Scottish universities in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe number of students at Scottish universities during the academic years 1978–79 to 1981–82 are:
Full-time and sandwich students 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 *1981–82 Undergraduates 38,080 38,569 39,690 39,722 Postgraduates 4,960 4,716 4,758 4,652 Total: full-time students 43,040 43,285 44,448 44,374 Part-time students Undergraduates 669 650 732 N/A Postgraduates 2,888 2,964 3,084 N/A Total: part-time students 3,557 3,614 3,816 N/A * Provisional.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of students currently attending universities in Scotland; and what reduction in the number of student places at Scottish universities is likely to result from reductions in the Universities Grant Committee's budget.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe University Grants Committee provisionally estimates that in October 1981 there were 44,400 full-time and sandwich students at Scottish universities of whom 41,400 were charged home student fees. The student number targets set by the Committee imply that the number charged home student fees will fall to 37,600 by 1984–85.