§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the estimated full-time equivalent advanced-level students attending (a) universities and (b) polytechnics in the United Kingdom in each of the next five years.
§ Dr. BoysonWhile there is likely to be some reduction over the period in the number of students admitted to higher education, it is not possible to give any firm estimates at this stage. My Department is currently 199W engaged in discussions with both the University Grants Committee and the local authority associations about the detailed implications of the proposals for higher education expenditure in the recent White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1981–82 to 1983–84", including what the effect of these proposals might be on student numbers.