asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time students attend first degree courses at institutions of higher education in the north-east; and how many were doing so in 1978–79.

In 1985 there were 20,800 full-time and sandwich first degree students studying at universities, polytechnics and colleges situated in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Cleveland. The corresponding figure in 1978 was 17,200.