§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of the past three years and for each university and polytechnic in Northern Ireland (a) the number of places available for first year courses and (b) the number of applicants for these courses.
§ Mr. ScottI regret that the information cannot be supplied in the form requested. However, the number of students admitted to first-year courses (other than postgraduate courses) were:
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 The Queen's university of Belfast 1,589 1,586 1,752 The New university of Ulster 507 696 743 The Ulster polytechnic 1,710 1,709 1,760 The number of UCCA first preference applicants were:
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 The Queen's university of Belfast 3,260 3,357 3,610 The New university of Ulster * 690 780 * Not available. The total numbers of applicants for courses at the polytechnic were:
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 6,667 7,559 8,098 In all cases applicants will include those who fail to meet the entrance requirements and those who have applied to other institutions.