§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications were received by the Medical Research Council for research studentships; what was the number awarded during the last year for which full figures are available; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1978–79.
Mr. JacksonThe MRC receives applications for research studentship places from academic departments and its own establishments; individuals apply to the department or establishment for a place. The following table gives the number of places sought and the numbers awarded:
Places sought Places awarded 1978–79 1,045 268 1979–80 1,010 275 1980–81 1,011 242 1981–82 952 243 1982–83 1,003 283 1983–84 1,059 280 1984–85 1,120 259 1985–86 1,146 184 1986–87 1,212 213