§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what evidence exists to suggest that there has been a substantial change in the numbers of further education students in the last 12 months;
(2) what has been the change in the numbers of further education students in the last 12 months; and what subjects and what geographical areas are most affected.
§ Mr. BoswellThe number of students on further education courses at institutions of further or higher education, including sixth form colleges, increased by about 3 per cent. between the 1992–93 and 1993–94 academic years. In terms of full-time equivalents the increase was about 6 per cent.
All regions showed an increase of some magnitude, but that in Greater London was particularly pronounced. Most main subject group1s also showed an increase. The largest increases were for subjects allied to medicine, education and mathematical and computing sciences.