HC Deb 06 February 1979 vol 962 cc115-6W
38. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the Educa-

UNITED KINGDOM UNIVERSITIES—FULL TIME AND PART TIME STUDENT NUMBERS
December December December December
1970 1971 1972 1973
1. Undergraduates:
(a) Engineering and Technology 31,168 31,396 30,382 29,432
(b) Total all subjects 197,739 200,996 203,356 207,105
(a) as percentage of (b) 15.8 15.6 14.9 14.2
2. Postgraduates:
(a) Engineering and Technology 8,200 8,854 8,859 9,073
(b) Total all subjects 60,901 65,114 67,013 68,509
(a) as percentage of (b) 13.5 13.6 13.2 13.2
3. All students:
(a) Engineering and Technology 39,368 40,250 39,241 38,505
(b) Total all subjects 258,640 266,110 270,369 275,614
(a) as percentage of (b) 15.2 15.1 14.5 14.0
December December December December
1974 1975 1976 1977
1. Undergraduates:
(a) Engineering and Technology 29,231 30,063 32,261 34,414
(b) Total all subjects 212,483 221,903 232,081 242,630
(a) as percentage of (b) 13.8 13.6 13.9 14.2
2. Postgraduates:
(a) Engineering and Technology 9,170 9,182 9,459 9,234
(b) Total all subjects 70,574 73,128 74,577 74,184
(a) as percentage of (b) 13.0 12.6 12.7 12.5
3. All students:
(a) Engineering and Technology 38,401 39,245 41,720 43,648
(b) Total all subjects 283,057 295,031 306,658 316,814
(a) as percentage of (b) 13.6 13.3 13.6 13.8

tion Bill currently before Parliament will extend parental choice of schools.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

I refer the hon. Member to what I said during the debate on Second Reading of the Bill on 5 December.—[Vol. 959, c.1231–35.]

46. Mr. Haselhurst

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has to strengthen the rights of parents to choose the school which their children will attend.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The Education Bill which is currently before the House will ensure that parents are always given an opportunity to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend, and that such preferences are fully taken into account by local education authorities.