§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps the Government are taking to ensure that resources for higher education in the polytechnics and the rest of the public sector are sufficient to meet the demands for trained manpower in the event of a recovery in the economy.
§ Mr. BrookeThe National Advisory Body's plans for local authority higher education in 1984–85, as endorsed by my right hon. Friend, and the associated distribution of the advanced further education pool provide for a substantial increase in admissions in subjects of relevance to the economy, including a 15 per cent. increase in first year engineering students. The Government are considering with the NAB and others what further measures may be needed to consolidate this shift of provision in later years.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of students from social groups IV and V currently attending polytechnics and universities or both together; and how this figure compares with 1981–82 as a total number and as a percentage.
§ Mr. BrookeThe statistical supplement to the twentieth report (1981–82) of the Universities Central Council on Admissions (tabulation 1, page 7) shows that in 1982, the latest year for which information is available, about 65,500 home candidates were accepted for admission to a university whose parent's occupation was recorded. Of these, 5.8 per cent. were from social classes IV and V (partly skilled and unskilled occupations). The corresponding figures for 1981 were 67,200 and 5.2 per cent. Probably, some of the 7,000 accepted home candidates not classified by parent's occupations were also from these social classes. No recent information is available in respect of the polytechnics. A copy of the statistical supplement is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy regarding intervention by his Department over the contents of courses in higher educational establishments.
§ Mr. BrookeThe content of courses is the responsibility of the institutions providing them, subject to any arrangements for external validation or accreditation. In the public sector Her Majesty's Inspectors has a programme of inspections of courses and institutions and374W its reports are published. In the case of initial teacher training, my right hon. Friend has recently announced criteria against which the content of courses will be addressed. Where my right hon. Friend receives complaints about the content of courses in higher education these may be pursued as seems appropriate in the light of the nature of the complaint.