Further and Higher Education (Hansard, 19 July 1995)

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of state-funded postgraduate students as a proportion of the entire student population at Welsh higher education institutions and if he will make a statement. [34966]

§ Mr. Richards
Information provided by the Higher Education Statistical Agency shows that, as at 1 December 1994, there were 81,200 students participating in courses of study at Welsh higher education institutions excluding the Open university. Of these, 12,000 were state-funded postgraduates. The state-funded postgraduates thus form 15 per cent. of the total population at Welsh higher education institutions.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the number of state-funded students pursuing postgraduate degrees at Welsh institutions of higher education; and if he will make a statement. [34967]

§ Mr. Richards
Information provided by the Higher Education Statistical Agency shows that, as at 1 December 1994, there were 12,000 postgraduate students participating in courses of study at Welsh Higher Education Institutions (excluding the Open University) whose major source of finance was from either government departments, other government funded bodies or the European Commission.

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which colleges of further education in Wales have reported that they are suffering financial difficulties, and if he will give details of the extent of those difficulties. [35262]

§ Mr. Richards
A forecast accumulated deficit of approximately £601,000 was identified for Deeside college up to the end of financial year 1994–95 and a recovery plan is currently in place. More recently, coleg Ceredigion is forecasting an accumulated deficit of approximately £800,000 up to the end of financial year 1994–95. The Further Education Funding Council for Wales has taken swift action to deal with the problem and a full recovery strategy will be presented by college 1397W management to coleg Ceredigion's governors on 20 July. The funding council is closely monitoring the financial health of two other colleges and further action will be taken if it is considered necessary.