§ Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of people in each standard statistical region and nation of the United Kingdom had entered higher education by the age of 30, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [HL813]
32WA
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandRegional higher education entry figures are not available. The latest figure for initial entry to higher education (for 2001–02) is 43.5 per cent. This is the initial entry rate (IER). Comparable entry rates for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also not available.
Initial participation in higher education is measured by the HE initial participation rate (HEIPR). The latest HEIPR is 43.9 per cent for 2001–02. Again, comparable initial participation figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not available.
A recent National Statistics quality review of the IER recommended1 we replace the IER with the HEIPR as the way in which we measure progress toward the 50 per cent target. The reason for the change from IER to HEIPR is to correct for certain weaknesses in the IER. We expect to publish the latest HEIPR figures in spring 2004 (as soon as information becomes available).
Higher education participation in Great Britain by those aged under 21 years is measured by the age participation index (API). The API for 2001–02 is 35 per cent. The most recent figures for the four constituent countries are given in the table.
1Review of the Initial Entry Rate into Higher Education, DfES, 2003 [A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library]
Age Participation Index by country1. 2000–01 Percentages England 32 Scotland 45 Wales 28 N Ireland 45 GB 33 1 These figures may differ from the individual countries' own APIs, which are calculated upon a slightly different basis.