§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the Government's targets for the participation rate of mature students in higher education by 2000. [21312]
§ Mr. ForthThe number of mature entrants has increased by 160 per cent. since 1979 and there are now more mature than young people entering higher education. The Government welcome this increase but have not set any targets for the level of participation among mature students.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many mature female students entered higher education institutions in each academic year from 1985–86 to 1995–96. [21313]
§ Mr. ForthThe available information is given in the following table:122W
Home full-time mature1 female entrants to higher education England Academic year Numbers 1985–86 20,548 1986–87 22,268 1987–88 23,723 1988–89 26,467 1989–90 29,825 1990–91 33,024 1991–92 41,936 1992–93 51,992 1993–94 56,502 1994–95 57,745 1 Those aged 21 and over on an undergraduate course, and those aged 25 and over on a postgraduate course.