HC Deb 28 April 1966 vol 727 cc46-7W
Mr. Mackintosh

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how far the number of students admitted to the Scottish universities in 1964 and 1965 has fallen behind the estimated number of places required in the Robbins Report; if it is anticipated that the gap between numbers admitted and places required will widen in October 1966; and how these figures for 1964, 1965 and estimates for 1966 compare with the numbers admitted and the estimated requirements according to the Robbins Report for the English universities.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

The total number of full-time students at universities in Scotland (including the Heriot Watt College) in 1964, provisional figures for 1965 and Universities' estimates for 1966, compare with the projections of total places required in the Robbins Report as follows:

Robbins Report Projections
October, 1964 26,200 26,200
October, 1965 28,300 29,300
October, 1966 31,300 31,500

The Robbins Committee did not make separate projections for the universities in England. Corresponding figures for universities in England and Wales (including Colleges of Advanced Technology) are:—

Robbins Report Projections
October, 1964 127,000 130,100
October, 1965 140,500 143,900
October, 1966 157,700 155,400

It will be noted that the comparison shows an improvement as between 1965 and 1966.