§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students commenced university in the current year; what was the figure five years ago; and what is his estimate for next year.
§ Mr. BoswellFull statistics for this year are not yet available, but new entrants to full-time undergraduate courses in Britain have been projected at some 308,000. This compares with 197,000 in the academic year 198990. It is for universities and colleges to decide on how many new entrants to admit next year, in the light of the number of students continuing from the present academic year and the current need to consolidate total student numbers. But the Government's plans allow for the proportion of young people entering full-time higher education in Britain to remain above 30 per cent., compared with 17 per cent. in 1989–90.