HC Deb 05 February 1963 vol 671 cc49-50W
Dr. King

asked the Minister of Education what is the planned intake for each of the years 1963 to 1970 in colleges of advanced technology, training colleges, diploma of technology courses, and comparable courses in regional and other colleges of technology, respectively; and, for each of these years, what proportion these figures will form of the total relevant age group in each case.

Sir E. Boyle

The plans for the expansion of the colleges and courses to which the hon. Member refers have been made in terms of total student numbers. The objectives so far announced are that the total number of full-time and sandwich students in the colleges of advanced technology should increase from about 10,500 this year to 15,000 in the mid-1960's and subsequently to 21,000, and that the total number of students in the training colleges should rise from about 48,000 this year to 80,000 in 1970–71. The regional and other technical colleges at present have about 24,000 advanced full-time and sandwich students. The numbers in these colleges in 1970 are likely to be considerably higher; but no estimate can usefully be made at this stage.

I would also draw the hon. Member's attention to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 24th January.