§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the participation rate for 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21-year-olds in education and training in each of the years since 1975; and what information he has as to how these figures compare with the rates for the United Kingdom's principal economic competitors.
§ Sir Keith Joseph[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1985, c. 313]: Full data for the United Kingdom prior to 1979 are not available. The preparation of participation rates for
Participation in education and training* Percentages Italy Japan†‡ USA‡≑ Germany≑ France Netherlands≑ 1979 Aged 16 n/a 91 n/a 97 83 96 17 n/a 92 n/a 91 68 77 18 n/a 38 n/a 70 43 56 19 n/a 37 n/a 44 27 39 1981 Aged 16 69 89 94 92 84 97 17 70 90 87 89 69 82 18 56 37 55 72 45 59 19 45 36 41 46 30 42 * Including apprenticeships and schemes similar to YTS. † Estimated; excluding some aged 18 and 19 in certain vocational training, ("special training schools"—Japanese terminology). ‡ Includes private sector higher education. ≑ Including compulsory part-time education for the youngest leavers; three years in Germany, one year in Netherlands.