Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students of nuclear engineering and nuclear physics are currently registered at United Kingdom universities and polytechnics; how many places in these disciplines are presently unfilled; and if he has made any assessment as to whether the present number of students being trained in nuclear physics and engineering will be sufficient for future needs.
620W
Mr. JacksonCourses in nuclear physics are not separately identified in centrally available statistics. There are two first degree courses in nuclear engineering: one is at Manchester university, on which a total of 28 students were enrolled in 1988–89, the most recent year for which such statistics are currently available; the other, which had its first intake in autumn 1989, is at Queen Mary college. London university. Statistics on unfilled places on individual courses are not centrally available. I know of no evidence to suggest any current or future shortfall in the supply of highly qualified manpower to the nuclear power industry.