§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Government intends to increase the number of places on access courses in further education colleges.
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government's expenditure plans for further education allow for the forecast increase of 25 per cent. in student numbers up to 1995–96 to be met in full, with an additional increase of 3 per cent. between 1995–96 and 1996–97. These plans include provision for students on access courses as defined by schedule 2 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Decisions about the number of places in individual subjects or types of courses are for individual colleges, in the light of demand from students and employers and the funding available to them.