HC Deb 18 December 1995 vol 268 cc905-6W
Mr. Robert McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of school children subsequently graduate; what proportion of jobs filled in the last three years in the Northern Ireland civil service required a degree; and how many graduates were recruited to jobs for which a degree was not required. [5458]

Sir John Wheeler

The percentage of school children who subsequently graduate and the number of graduates recruited by the Northern Ireland civil service in the last three years is as follows:

It is estimated that 25 per cent. of school children in Northern Ireland graduate by the age of 25.

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Proportion of NI Civil Service jobs filled which required a degree1 8.5 per cent. (132 out of 1554) 5.7 per cent.(36 out of 633) 7.4 per cent. (40 out of 540)
Number of graduates recruited where a degree was not required 2 145 66 59

Note:

1 Non-industrial permanent recruits.

2 Non-industrial permanent recruits including recruits who obtained a degree since appointment. The figures for the years 1992–93 and 1994–95 correct those I gave in response to a question from the hon. Gentleman on 3 November, Official Report column 500–2.