17. To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made in encouraging greater participation in higher education by people from under-represented groups. . (164271)

18. To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made in encouraging greater participation in higher education by people from under-represented groups. (164272)

The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that for 2005/06, the proportion of young entrants to full-time first degrees coming from lower socio-economic class backgrounds stands at 29.1 per cent.—up from 27.9 per cent. in 2002/03. Furthermore, the Department’s own, published evidence shows that the proportion of young people from lower socio-economic class backgrounds participating in higher education has risen from 17.6 per cent. in 2002/03 to 19.9 per cent. in 2005/06.