§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have noted the view expressed by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, Chairman of the National Electronics Council, "that the financial cuts in universities and polytechnics might lead to even greater reductions in the number of suitably qualified graduates", and what steps they will now take to sustain the output of graduates in electronics and computer science.
§ The Earl of SwintonThe views of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent have been noted by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, but special steps have been 779WA and are being taken to increase the graduate output in electronic and computer science.
My right honourable friend has made known both to the UGC and to the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education (NAB) the Government's wish to see increasing emphasis on provision in science and technology subjects. Following this, graduate output in electronic engineering and computer science is projected to rise by something like 1,700 (31 per cent.) between 1983–84 and 1987–88. Moreover, the Government's initiative to increase the number of information technology students in higher education, which began to be implemented during the last academic year, will lead in due course to some 5,000 more HND, first degree and postgraduate students in relevant disciplines than under previous plans. Additional steps will be considered in the light of the recent report by the IT Skills Shortages Committee chaired by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Butcher).