§ Q40. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take if demand for higher education in October 1984 reaches the higher limit of the forecast in the Department of Education and Science report on education No. 99, rather than the lower one assumed for planning purposes in the statement on education and science expenditure published on 17 November.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government's expenditure plans already provide for places to be available in higher 157W education for about 87 per cent. of those expected to qualify for it — a proportion close to that of those qualified and wanting a place in recent years. This will mean about 60,000 more full-time students in 1984–85 than when the Conservative Government took office in 1979, but if there was evidence that an even larger proportion of those qualified was seeking to enter higher education, the Government would review the position.