HC Deb 10 November 1969 vol 791 cc26-7W
Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of offences of violence against persons and the number of convictions in each of the last five years.

Mr. Ross

The number of cases of crimes of violence against the person made known to the police in Scotland during each of the last live years together with the number of persons convicted or found guilty is shown ill the table below.

the annual increase in the number of school leavers with university entrance qualifications for the years 1971, 1973 and 1975; what will be the shortfall of university places; and what action he proposes to take to avoid a recurrence of the shortages of the early 1960s.

Mr. Ross

As university entrance qualifications involve a number of variable factors and are different for different universities the estimates used are in terms of numbers of school leavers with three or more higher grade passes in the Scottish Certificate of Education. The figures are:

1971 11,800 1973 13,200 1975 15,100
1970 11,100 1972 12,600 1974 14,200
Annual increase 700 600 900

Past experience indicates that a considerable number of leavers thus qualified will enter other sectors of higher education or employment and not apply for admission to university.

Decisions have yet to be taken by the Government about the number of university places to be provided in the next quinquennium, both in Great Britain and, within the Great Britain total, in the Scottish universities. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Secretary came into operation on 1st May, 1968, of State for Education and Science about and I am not yet in a position to judge the Scottish elements in the forecasts of their effect. the demand for university places.