40. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he is satisfied that the target of 20,000 graduates a year in pure or applied science by about 1970, as set by the Barlow Committee and the Scientific Manpower Committee, will now be met; what is the present annual number of boys and girls leaving schools with two or more A levels in science subjects; and what steps are being taken to increase this number.
§ Mr. M. StewartI expect that the target of 20,000 qualified scientists and technologists a year by 1970 referred to in the Question will be achieved during 1965. The number of boys and girls to leave school in the school year 1962–63 who had two or more A levels at least one of which, and mostly all of which, were in science subjects was rather more than 25,000.
For the last part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I have given to the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin).