§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps will be taken to ensure training of a greater number of high technology engineers.
§ Mr. BrookeAs a result of the planning exercise conducted recently by the National Advisory Body, there will be a significant shift in subject balance within local authority higher education in 1984–85 towards scientific, technological and business-related subjects. First-year intakes to full-time and sandwich courses in engineering are planned to increase by 15 per cent. in 1984–85 over 1982–83, and intakes in mathematics and computing, including most LAHE information technology courses, are planned to rise by 49 per cent.
In response to a request from the University Grants Committee, universities have indicated that at their new level of staffing and funding they would be willing to admit additional students in relevant technological subjects in 1984–85 and 1985–86.
227WMoreover, in a statement to the House on 16 December 1982, at columns 187–89, my right hon. Friend announced an initiative to increase provision in information technology subjects. This has resulted in an additional 2,300 higher diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate students in IT-related subjects during the current academic year, and there are expected to be about 5,000 more students by 1985–86 than under previous plans. This represents an increase of 20 per cent. over previously planned numbers.
My right hon. Friend and I are also currently considering, in conjunction with the Engineering Council and others, whether current estimates of demand call for additional measures to be taken. We are also keen to encourage more women to enter engineering and we fully support the aims of the women into science and engineering year (WISE '84) initiative launched by the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Engineering Council.
Total Recurrent Expenditure in England on: School Buildings and Grounds On School Buildings £ million Cash £ million (at estimated 1982–83 prices) £ million Cash £ million (at estimated 1982–83 prices) 1978–79 207 344 N/A 1979–80 244 351 N/A 1980–81 299 362 N/A 1981–82 302 326 228 246 1982–83 340 340 261 261 Some capital expenditure will have been on the maintenance of school buildings. However, the returns from authorities of capital expenditure do not separately identify maintenance expenditure.