§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on changes in the percentage of students entering university education in the last 18 years from social classes A, B, C and D. [11717]
§ Dr. HowellsThe following table shows how the proportions of young people from different socio-economic groups entering full-time higher education have changed since 1991–92: comparable data are not readily available from earlier years.
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Table 1: The Age Participation Index (API) for Great Britain by socio-economic group Academic year 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 IV—Partly skilled (D) 12 14 16 17 17 V—Unskilled (E) 6 9 11 11 12 Total 23 28 30 32 32 Groups I to III 26 31 33 35 36 Groups IV and V 11 13 14 15 16 The API is the number of home domiciled young (aged less than 21) initial entrants to full-time undergraduate courses in GB, expressed as a proportion of the average 18 to 19 year old GB population.
(A), (B), (C1), (C2), (D), (E)—institute of practitioners (IPA) equivalent definition of social class.
Participation among socio-economic groups D and E remains less than half that of socio-economic groups A to C, notwithstanding the recent expansion in higher education. The Government's proposals, as set out in my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 23 July, will encourage access and ensure free education for the least well-off.