§ 6. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the effects of the cuts in university education with particular reference to higher education facilities in Scotland.
§ Dr. BoysonDetails of grants to universities in Scotland were included in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on 2 July. Higher education in Scotland other than the universities is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ 17. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the effect of reductions in grants to universities on the output of graduates in engineering and technology.
§ Dr. BoysonThe effect of the reduction in grant to universities on the output of graduates in any subject depends on decisions taken by individual universities in the light of advice from the University Grants Committee. The target numbers which the Committee have set for 1983–84 provide for a increase in numbers in engineering and technology compared with the numbers in 1979–80.
§ 24. Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the financing of the universities.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on 2 July.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect he estimates that the planned reduction in university spending over the next three years will have on the total number of students.
§ Dr. BoysonIn its allocation of grant to universities for 1981–82 and its provisional indications for the following two years, the University Grants Committee has assumed that the total number of home and EC full-time students will be about 249,000 by 1984–85.
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§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he expects the proposed reduction in financial provision for universities in England and Wales to lead to a reduction in the number of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, technologists, engineers and scientists trained; and, if so, what reduction he expects there will be in each of these categories by 1986.
§ Dr. BoysonThe number of students who will be trained in particular disciplines over the next few years will depend,inter alia, on decisions taken by individual universities in the light of the views of the University Grants Committee. Compared with the position in 1979–80, the committee's allocation of recurrent grant for 1981–82 and its provisional indications to 1983–84 provide for the number of medical students to increase, of dental students to remain unchanged, and of pharmacy students to fall.
The total number of science-based students is expected to fall, but within this overall reduction the committee has provided for an increase in the number of students of engineering aid technology.