§ Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the findings of the Royal Society's paper "Demographic Trends and Future University Candidates", he will ask his Department to issue a revised version of "Report on Education" No. 99.
§ Sir Keith JosephNo. The Royal Society's paper considers likely future demand for university places based on projections of numbers of home candidates. On this basis it concludes that the number of people applying for university will fall by between 15 and 19 per cent. between 1984–85 and 1994–95. Some of these applicants, however, will in the event fail to qualify to enter higher education. The Department's recently published report on education, number 99 looks at demand for places based on projected numbers of school leavers who are qualified to enter higher education. This report indicates that demand by home entrants to universities or elsewhere in higher education is 135W likely to fall by between 23 and 27 per cent. between 1984–85 and 1994–95. The Department's projections of future demand for higher education are broadly in line with the conclusions of the Royal Society's paper when account 136W is taken of the different sectors covered, whether the projections are based on those applying or on those qualifying for higher education, and other smaller differences in the underlying assumptions.