asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers, both in absolute terms and expressed as a percentage of the relevant age group going on to university or to degree term courses in central institutions, further education colleges or colleges of education or in other similar education institutions in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales, for each of the last 20 years, giving figures for each year; and what percentage received degrees.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1985, c. 352]: The numbers from each country within Great Britain are not readily available and, therefore, no meaningful percentages of the relevant age group in each country can be calculated. The readily available numbers of first-year first degree home students in universities and public sector higher education studying in England and the numbers in universities in Wales and in Scotland are as follows:

Academic Year	England*	Wales†	Scotland†
1983–84	102,799	4,432	9,681
1982–83	105,463	4,846	10,014
1981–82	104,035	4,805	10,517
1980–81	97,454	5,218	10,849
1979–80	94,423	4,881	10,286
1978–79	90,078	5,021	10,272
England and Wales‡
1977–78	94,279		9,872
1976–77	89,550		9,843
1975–76	76,357		9,552
* All higher education.
† Universities only.
‡ Separate figures for Wales for these years are not readily available. University and public sector higher education students are included. Public sector first degree courses in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and since 1978 those in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

It is not known what percentage of entrants obtain degrees but the available numbers of first degrees awarded to home students by universities in Wales and Scotland and by universities and the Council for National Academic Awards in England are:

First degrees awarded in	England* †	Wales‡	Scotland‡
1983	80,200	4,700	9,500
1982	76,700	4,600	8,900
1981	75,100	4,500	9,000
1980	71,700	4,100	8,600
1979	66,600	4,200	8,600
* First degrees awarded to students in public sector higher education but validated by universities are excluded.
† The numbers of CNAA degrees awarded each year are estimates based on the numbers of degree results processed during the year which were provided by the CNAA.
‡ University degrees only.