§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many student places in universities and polytechnics in science, engineering and mathematics were unfilled in the last academic year.
§ Mr. WaldenInformation on student places is not collected centrally. The University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education regularly monitor trends in student numbers and their relationship to planning totals. Such monitoring does not, however, extend to the numbers of empty places. Provision is also being made to monitor the engineering and technology programme and the effect this has on other similar courses.