§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many women, as a percentage of the female population, entered (a) universities and (b) public sector higher education, as undergraduates, in each of the last 10 years; and what are the respective figures in respect of males.
§ Mr. BrookeThe following information relates to students aged under 21 entering courses of higher education (including sub-degree courses) in Great Britain for the first time, expressed in terms of percentages of the average of the population of 18 and 19-year-olds in the relevant years. The fall in the age participation indices for women in the public sector in the 1970's is due to the planned reduction in courses of initial teacher training.
Universities Public sector higher education Men Women Men Women per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. 1973–74 8.7 5.2 6.0 7.9 1974–75 8.8 5.5 5.8 7.4 1975–76 9.0 5.5 5.8 6.9 1976–77 9.0 5.6 5.6 6.2 1977–78 9.2 5.8 5.2 5.1 1978–79 9.1 6.0 5.1 4.8 1979–80 8.9 6.2 5.1 4.9 1980–81 8.9 6.3 5.5 5.0 1981–82 8.7 6.1 6.4 5.8 1982–83 8.0 5.8 7.0 6.4