HC Deb 02 December 1986 vol 106 cc553-4W
10. Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number of students are currently in full-time higher education in England and Wales; and what was the figure in 1978–79.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

In 1986 there were 457,000 home students in full-time higher education in England and Wales. This compares with 384,000 in 1979—this is an increase of 19 per cent.

12. Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of disabled students in higher education.

36. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of disabled students in higher education.

47. Mr. Allen McKay

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of disabled students in higher education.

77. Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of disabled students in higher education.

Mr. Walden

As explained in my reply on 18 November to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) information on disabled students in higher education is not available routinely. However, in 1985 a DES funded survey estimated that there were some 600 students in public sector higher education who had special educational needs which required additional support or equipment.

The Open University had just over 2,000 disabled students in the undergraduate programme at the start of 1986. Information is not available about other universities.

16. Mr. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds will be available in 1987–88 for public sector higher education capital expenditure.

Mr. Walden

The total available for capital allocations to local authorities for higher education has yet to be determined. Subject to parliamentary approval, £3.3 million will be available for capital allocations to voluntary and direct grant colleges.

20. Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of students in higher education who are of Asian or Afro-Caribbean parentage.

48. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of students in higher education who are of Asian and Afro-Caribbean parentage.

50. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has on the percentage of students in higher education who are of Asian and Afro-Caribbean parentage.

Mr. Walden

This information is not collected centrally. Discussions are in progress within the Department about means of collecting such data for the future.

24. Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the levels of academic salaries in higher education.

68. Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the levels of academic salaries in higher education.

72. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the levels of academic salaries in higher education.

73. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the levels of academic salaries in higher education.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Association of University Teachers have made proposals for a restructuring of academic pay. Those have been discussed with my Department, most recently on 19 November, against the background of my right hon. Friend's willingness to provide additional resources for a satisfactory outcome. I very much hope that such a result can be achieved.

61. Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of higher education.

Mr. Walden

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 6 November, at columns 487–91 about the the Government's expenditure plans and to that which he gave to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 20 November, at columns 281–82, about projections of future demand for higher education.

74. Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the levels of pay of non-academic and ancillary staff in higher education.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Preston (Mr. Thorne), for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett) and for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) earlier today.

Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the chairman of the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education; and what subjects were discussed.

Mr. Walden

My right hon. Friend last met the National Advisory Body committee, including its chairman and the chairman of the NAB board who is a member, on 9 July when the main subject was resources for 1987–88.