University Students 41. Mr. Swingler asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD the latest figures on the numbers and proportions of university students in the last 10 years whose courses ------ | | ------ |1952|…|…| ------ |1955|…|…| ------ |1957|…|…| ------ 46. Mr. Malcolm MacPherson asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the grounds on which he has set 150,000 as the target number of students, to the achieving of which in the next five years he wishes the additional funds for the universities to be applied as far as possible. Sir E. Boyle This target has been set in order to provide the greatest practicable opportunities for the very large age-groups which will be reaching university age in 1966–7. The number of 150,000 will provide university places for as high a proportion of the age-groups at the peak of the "bulge" as are available for the corresponding smaller age-groups now. 52. Mr. Swingler asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what comparative statistics he has obtained through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation relating to the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and France, respectively, showing the total number of university students and the number per 1,000 of have been prematurely terminated or who failed to get degrees, distinguishing where possible, the figures for Oxford and Cambridge and stating separately the figures for students awarded open scholarships. Sir E. Boyle The University Grants Committee have collected figures in respect of all universities on three occasions in recent years showing the progress of students after four years in arts, pure science, and technology. The results of these surveys are being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I have no figures for other studies, for separate universities, or for holders of open scholarships.population, the total expenditure annually on university education and the ratio of such expenditure to gross national production, for the years 1950 and 1960 and the estimates for 1970. Sir E. Boyle None. The collection and evaluation of statistics, including those published in U.N.E.S.C.O., on which such comparative studies as are possible can be based is, I understand, being pursued by the Robbins Committee on Higher Education,