§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the annual drop-out rate for students of universities and polytechnics in the United Kingdom each year since 1979.
§ Mr. WaldenThe information, for all years since 1979, in respect of universities in Great Britain is not readily available. However, analyses conducted on 1979 and 1983 figures estimate that 10–1 per cent. and 7.8 per cent., respectively, of full-time undergraduates left before completion of their course. Of those 5.9 per cent. and 4.5 per cent., respectively, left during their first year. Further450W work is in progress on the methodology behind these analyses which may lead to the revision of the figures. Similar information for students at polytechnics is not available.