§ 14. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement about the provision of places in universities, polytechnics and higher education colleges over the next 15 years.
§ Mr. BrookeProvided that there is continued institutional economy, planned resources for higher education up to 1986–87 should allow for demand to be met at at least the level of the lower variant projected in "Report on Education Number 100", published by my right hon. Friend on 12 July. Longer-term provision is one of the matters that Ministers will be considering in the light of advice from the University Grants Committee and National Advisory Body for Local Higher Education on the future development of higher education.
§ 23. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the University Grants Committee on the development of a strategy for higher education.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend expects to receive this advice later in the summer.
§ 31. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his most recent estimate of the numbers of students in higher education for each of the next three years.
§ Mr. BrookeTaking account of the student number targets set for institutions for 1984–85 by the University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education, and the projections of future demand for higher education published by my right hon. Friend on 12 July, the Department's estimates of total full-time home student numbers in universities in Great Britain and in AFE institutions in England are 477,000 in 1984–85, 473,000 in 1985–86 and 472,000 in 1986–87.